Social Psychology

A comprehensive analysis of American high schools reveals that while students are largely sorted into math and science classes based on academic readiness, the social and economic status of a community also dictates access to advanced coursework.

A new survey finds that American support for political violence decreased heading into the 2026 midterms. While MAGA supporters remain the most likely to justify violence, overall willingness to commit physical harm dropped across the ideological spectrum.

A comprehensive review of 60 years of research reveals that people who participate in protests are driven more by social connections and political interest than by personal grievances, anger, or mistrust of the government.

People who spend excessive time lost in vivid, immersive fantasies often report higher rates of social media addiction and hypersexuality. New research suggests that underlying narcissistic traits and fragile self-esteem may connect these compulsive behaviors.

New research reveals that believing in conspiracy theories directly reduces people's faith in societal fairness, eroding the perception that resources are distributed based on merit, equality, or need.

Can implicit bias tests predict how people actually behave? A new adversarial collaboration finds that while indirect tests capture a tiny fraction of hidden bias, traditional self-report surveys are vastly superior at predicting race-related decisions.

Public health campaigns often broadcast low vaccination rates to encourage people to get their shots. A recent experiment suggests this strategy might backfire, showing that people adjust their healthcare decisions based on the behavior of opposing political groups.

A recent study reveals that mass shootings and suicide deaths share a synchronized seasonal rhythm in the U.S. Both peak in mid-summer, suggesting these violent events may be driven by similar underlying psychological forces and environmental triggers.

A new study of 95 countries reveals that higher education—not wealth—makes individuals globally more culturally similar to Western nations. This raises concerns about the accuracy of psychological research that relies heavily on university students.

A new study indicates that psychopathy and sadism predict support for violence on both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict. While ideology usually drives partisan loyalty, these dark personality traits are linked to a broader acceptance of violence.

A newly developed psychological survey measures "mankeeping"—the unpaid labor women perform to manage their male partners' social lives. Findings show that this effort is strongly associated with relationship burnout, lower satisfaction, and psychological distress.

Many universities and businesses now use language guides to eliminate supposedly harmful words like "master bedroom." However, a new study finds these bans may be misguided, as exposure to such terms causes no actual psychological distress.

A sweeping new study of world leaders spanning six decades finds that those with wider facial proportions are slightly more likely to initiate military action, particularly during their first few years in office.

A new study reveals that an intense, borderline-pathological obsession with celebrities is strongly linked to vulnerable narcissism and criminal thinking patterns. However, casual celebrity fandom is actually associated with more pro-social, law-abiding attitudes.

Men and women estimate the frequency of sexual objectification differently, with men sometimes guessing higher numbers than women report experiencing. A recent study unpacks this disconnect and explores why different behaviors are perceived so differently.