Stronger Bonds Before Birth Shape Healthier Mother-Child Futures

Sumary: A new study reveals that young mothers who feel emotionally connected to their unborn babies are more likely to form healthy, positive relationships with their children later. Researchers tracked…

Eating Seafood Linked to Kinder, More Socially Skilled Young Children

Summary: Children who regularly eat seafood at age 7 exhibit more positive social behaviors—such as sharing, helping, and interacting kindly—by ages 7 and 9, compared to those who rarely consume…

How Large Social Circles Foster Trust

Summary: A new study challenges the belief that larger groups reduce cooperation, showing instead that flexible social connections enhance teamwork. Researchers found that in a prisoner’s dilemma game, participants in…

Do Accents Influence Guilt Perceptions?

Summary: Accents influence perceptions of guilt, with those judged as “lower status” being considered more likely to commit crimes. Researchers analyzed responses from 180 participants who rated voices from 10…

Decoding Favoritism: How Parents Shape Sibling Bonds

Summary: New research sheds light on how parents subtly favor children based on birth order, personality, and gender, shaping family dynamics. Younger siblings often receive more favorable treatment, while older…

Neural Mechanisms Behind Stress-Driven Social Changes Found

Summary: Male and female mice usually prefer female companions but switch to preferring males under survival stress, a new study reveals. This behavioral shift is driven by distinct brain circuits…

Social Connections Key to Borderline Personality Disorder Therapy

Summary: Loneliness plays a central role in borderline personality disorder (BPD) and often persists even when clinical symptoms subside. Current treatments, such as dialectical behavior therapy, fail to fully address…

Oxytocin Influences Social Behavior and Emotional Response

Summary: New research reveals how oxytocin profoundly influences social behavior and emotional responses in the brain. Animal models have shown how this hormone impacts social fear and how chronic stress…

Mapping the Brain’s Response to Social Rejection

Summary: A new study explores how the brain processes social acceptance and rejection, revealing how these experiences shape relationships and influence mental health. Using behavioral experiments and MRI imaging, researchers…

Animal Characters in Children’s Books Boost Theory of Mind

Summary: Animal characters in children’s books can significantly boost their theory of mind skills, which are essential for understanding social cues. The research showed that children exposed to animal characters…