Social Psychology

A preference for social hierarchy may be linked to both brain structure and motivation. Researchers found that people scoring higher in social dominance orientation had less gray matter in a region tied to empathy and emotion.

Conservatives tend to report more rigid thinking styles than liberals, but that doesn't appear to make them more likely to follow their party's lead. Across dozens of issues, both groups shifted toward their party's stance about equally.

A recent experiment found that physical attractiveness does not protect internet trolls from judgment. When encountering online misogyny, users rely on the severity of the message itself rather than being swayed by the perpetrator's profile picture.

People who view the world as devoid of meaning are more likely to support political violence. A new study suggests that simple exercises to find everyday meaning could help reduce these violent extremist intentions.

Winning a lottery prize of about $140,000 made single Swedish men roughly 30 percent more likely to marry within five years. For married women, a similar windfall nearly doubled the short-term risk of divorce.

Taking psychedelics on the Fourth of July is linked to decreased support for partisan violence, while using them during political conventions shows the opposite effect. A new study suggests the broader cultural mood heavily influences a psychedelic experience.

A recent study of 344 incarcerated adults reveals that narcissistic traits fuel psychopathic tendencies through calculating, manipulative behavior. The research highlights how dark personality traits blend into survival tactics behind bars, particularly among women.

When politics comes up in small group chats, people often adjust their stated opinions to match the dominant viewpoint. New research using AI-simulated conversations reveals that social pressure can easily sway how we express our political beliefs.

A recent study reveals that parents of transgender youth experienced worsening mental health and heightened anxiety following the 2025 presidential inauguration. The research highlights the immediate emotional toll that shifting political climates take on families.

A new analysis of the 2024 U.S. presidential election reveals how TikTok’s design encourages candidates to use short, emotional, and performance-based videos. The study highlights how algorithmic platforms favor rapid entertainment and visual spectacle over detailed policy discussions.

Male managers who have a first daughter tend to hire more women and raise female employees' share of earnings, according to new research. The shift happens almost immediately and has no detectable impact on company performance.

Watching footage of local retail crime prompted liberal voters to adopt stricter, more conservative criminal justice policies. However, a recent psychological experiment reveals that these fear-induced policy shifts did not alter the voters' broader political identities.

While celebrities often champion liberal causes, their biggest fans might lean another way. New research indicates that intense celebrity admiration is consistently linked to traditionalism and a desire to submit to dominant authorities.

During the 2024 U.S. presidential election, politicians and anonymous users openly used disinformation as a campaign strategy. A new study reveals who spread these hoaxes, how they shared them, and who was targeted by the fabricated claims.

What actually lands a PhD student a tenure-track professorship? A new study suggests a candidate's publication record, research field, and demographic identity are much stronger predictors of hiring success than the prestige of their university.