Summary: Researchers explored how people process deception from friends versus strangers, using brain imaging to study decision-making in gain and loss contexts. Volunteers were more likely to believe lies in…
Tag: social behavior
Aggression Is Contagious: Observing Violence Primes the Brain for Aggression
Summary: A new study shows that observing violence can make individuals more likely to act aggressively later, but the effect depends on familiarity. Male mice who watched familiar peers attack…
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…
Chimpanzees and Children Share a Curiosity for Social Drama
Summary: A new study shows that both chimpanzees and young children are drawn to watching social interactions, sometimes even at a cost. When given a choice between viewing videos of…
Across Generations, Humans Are Driven to Keep Culture Alive
Summary: A new paper proposes the cultural continuity hypothesis, suggesting that humans are universally driven to preserve essential aspects of their culture across generations. Drawing on psychology, sociology, and anthropology,…
Kindness Sparks Cooperation by Boosting Social Connectedness
Summary: New research reveals that everyday niceness, like warm tones, smiles, and active listening, can significantly improve teamwork and increase willingness to cooperate. These small acts foster a sense of social…
Incel Culture Links Work Avoidance to Group Loyalty
Summary: A new study reveals that many self-identified incels reject employment not only due to mental health challenges, but as a deliberate expression of identity reinforced by online communities. By…
Moral Outrage Goes Viral, But Doesn’t Drive Action Online
Summary: A new study analyzing over a million posts linked to online petitions found that while moral outrage boosts a post’s virality, it doesn’t significantly increase petition signatures. Emotional and…
How the Brain Judges Social Encounters
Summary: Scientists have identified the neural circuitry responsible for assigning emotional value, positive or negative, to social encounters. Two key neuromodulators, serotonin and neurotensin, were found to control opposing emotional responses…
Practicing Gratitude Builds Resilience and Hope
Summary: While gratitude has been praised for its mental health and relationship benefits, cultivating it during stressful times can be especially challenging. Negative information naturally grabs our attention more than…
