Social Psychology

A study of nearly 3,000 Chinese adolescents suggests mobile phone dependence affects creativity in domain-specific ways. At low levels it predicts reduced scientific and artistic creativity, but after a threshold the negative link disappears for science and turns positive for...

A new study published in PNAS suggests that moments of political crisis can shift what goes viral. After the Trump assassination attempt and Biden’s campaign suspension, people engaged more with posts expressing unity than with posts attacking the other side.

People differ in how they respond to antagonistic leadership. A new study finds that those who see the world as a high-stakes competition tend to judge confrontational behavior as effective, while others see it as a sign of incompetence.

Researchers examining debates over women’s bodily autonomy find that harm arguments often operate less as genuine moral convictions and more as rhetorical tools. The study points to fairness and purity as stronger predictors of people’s actual stances on these issues.

Despite its reputation for secularism and science literacy, a new study finds that many Danes still hold supernatural beliefs. From psychic energy to ghosts, these beliefs show strong demographic patterns—and challenge assumptions about modern rationality.

Psychologists find that not everyone responds to partner phone use the same way. A daily diary study shows attachment-anxious individuals report stronger feelings of rejection and are more likely to retaliate when phubbed, underscoring how early relational patterns shape digital...

A new study suggests the strongest driver of conspiracy beliefs about the Trump assassination attempt wasn’t social media or cable news. Instead, researchers found an unexpected social factor that could explain why some people fall for these narratives.

Researchers have uncovered a surprising link between political extremism and emotional chills—those shivers or goosebumps people feel during powerful music or speeches—suggesting that intense bodily reactions may reflect deeper psychological and ideological patterns across the political spectrum.

New research finds that men high in psychopathy and sexual desire, and women who are less picky with matches, report more sexual encounters via Tinder. The findings suggest dating apps favor fast, opportunistic mating strategies shaped by personality.

A new longitudinal study of Chinese high school students suggests that growing up in poverty weakens belief in a just world, while unpredictable environments show less consistent effects. Perceptions of discrimination appear to help explain this link.

Frequent churchgoers are more likely to say tackle football is appropriate for kids, according to new research. The study highlights how religious beliefs may influence support for the sport.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris framed the 2024 presidential debate in starkly different terms, according to a new study—but their language also showed surprising overlap in tone, emotional content, and specificity.

New research from China suggests that women feel unsafe when confronted with a sexually objectifying gaze—but still choose to self-sexualize if the man is attractive or high status. The findings highlight a psychological tradeoff between risk and potential reward.

TikTok is flooded with misleading content about contraception, according to a new study. Most viral videos are not made by medical experts and often promote “natural” methods while casting doubt on hormonal options and professional medical advice.

A massive linguistic study challenges the belief that language change is driven by young people alone. Researchers found that older adults often adopt new word meanings within a few years—and sometimes even lead the change themselves.