Social Psychology

By measuring brainwaves and startle reflexes on a smartphone, researchers discovered that psychopathic traits like boldness overload attention to ignore threats, while meanness is tied to a biological deficit in emotional processing.

The debate over World Cup icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo isn't just about soccer. New research spanning 26 countries reveals that liberals generally prefer Messi, while conservatives favor Ronaldo, especially among younger, politically divided generations.

Political anger doesn’t always lead to violence. A new study shows that intense frustration only increases support for undemocratic behaviors when people feel the government is ignoring them, suggesting responsive institutions are vital for a healthy democracy.

Are Machiavellianism and psychopathy the same trait? A new 30-day diary study reveals that while these dark personalities look identical on paper, tracking daily behavior shows they operate in completely distinct ways.

A recent study reveals that adults who exceed their ideal family size experience lower emotional well-being. By contrast, people who have fewer children than desired report similar happiness levels to those who meet their parenting goals.

New psychological research reveals that everyday sadistic tendencies and a cynical, manipulative nature powerfully fuel militant extremist beliefs. By analyzing dark personality traits and moral judgments, scientists are uncovering how ordinary people justify political violence.

Despite popular beliefs linking psychedelic drugs to open-mindedness, new research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that substances like psilocybin and LSD do not reliably alter a person's authoritarian political views.

Because algorithms focus on maximizing short-term engagement, they often prevent us from discovering new genres. A recent study reveals that slightly imperfect recommendation systems are actually much better at satisfying our evolving, long-term entertainment tastes.

When readers encounter expected political viewpoints, they often fall for misinformation. A new study reveals that reading surprisingly opposed viewpoints on trusted platforms forces people to think harder, dramatically improving their ability to spot false claims.

A new study shows that traditional machismo is linked to higher rape myth acceptance. Even parents who reject these myths on paper often use victim-blaming logic when discussing how to protect their daughters.

Voters rarely reward state politicians for their lawmaking skills. However, a recent study suggests that the most effective state legislators still reach Congress because their ambition drives them to pursue higher federal office.

A recent analysis of national survey data suggests that playing video games does not correspond to increased prejudiced beliefs. Instead, researchers found that gamers tend to hold more inclusive cultural values than the general American public.

A person's beliefs about race can influence whether they vote, but the outcome heavily depends on their religious identity. A nuanced study compares how racial resentment motivates white, Black, Latino, and Asian American evangelicals in opposite ways.

A daily diary study found that people with high attachment anxiety experience a spike in depression and a drop in self-esteem on days when their partner pays more attention to their phone than to them.