Universally Cool: Personality Traits That Cross Cultural Lines

Summary: What makes someone “cool” appears to be remarkably consistent across cultures, according to a global psychology study. Researchers surveyed nearly 6,000 people from 13 countries and found that cool…

Why People Trust Those Who Grew Up With Less

Summary: New research reveals that people are more likely to trust others who grew up in lower-income households than those from privileged backgrounds. Across multiple experiments, participants consistently showed greater…

Early Maternal Affection Shapes Key Personality Traits for Life

Summary: Affectionate mothering in early childhood may play a lasting role in shaping personality traits that influence educational, professional, and health outcomes. A study of over 2,200 identical twins found…

Digital Swiping Increases Boredom, Reduces Video Enjoyment

Summary: Swiping through online videos to alleviate boredom may actually make people more bored and less satisfied with the content, according to new research. The study found that switching between…

Hurts to Think: The Unpleasant Truth About Mental Effort

Summary: New research suggests that mental exertion is often associated with unpleasant feelings such as stress and irritation, challenging the notion that people enjoy mentally demanding tasks. A meta-analysis of…

Overthinking Happiness Can Lower Life Satisfaction

Summary: Obsessing over personal happiness can actually decrease life satisfaction, according to new research. In three studies involving over 1,800 participants, individuals who judged their own happiness reported lower well-being,…

Study Shows Narcissism Declines with Age

Summary: A study reveals that narcissism decreases from childhood to older adulthood, though individual differences remain stable over time. People who are more narcissistic as children tend to stay that…

The Impact of Violent Neighborhoods on Brain Development

Summary: Children living in violent neighborhoods exhibit increased amygdala reactivity, signaling heightened sensitivity to threats, which can affect mental health and socioemotional functioning. However, nurturing parenting can protect against these…

Sleep Deprivation’s Toll on Emotions

Summary: Researchers examined over fifty years of research to highlight the profound impact of sleep loss on emotional well-being. Analyzing data from 154 studies with 5,715 participants, the research team…

Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Impacts Child Mental Health

Summary: Research reveals that children of mothers experiencing high stress, anxiety, or depression during pregnancy may have a greater risk of mental health and behavior issues throughout childhood and adolescence.…