Current reporting, research and professional developments across Social Psychology, curated for psychologists and behavioral-health professionals.
Food, safety, and strong relationships are essential to our survival. Psychologist Lisa Miller says our brains also crave something else: transcendence. She suggests that spirituality is a universal human capacity, and…
How do people want to be happy? Pop songs can tell us! Yahoo! (This is your celebration) Celebrate good times, come on (Let's celebrate) (Kool and the Gang, 1981)) Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games We got…
How happy you are in your relationship may shape how you see your partner’s attachment orientation. How accurately do people see their romantic partners? And when a relationship is going well, do people start to see…
Opinion hopping — the subtle habit of caving to social pressure instead of staying with what you actually think — slowly erodes self-respect from the inside out.
Why does one bad experience have the power to overshadow an otherwise good day? Psychologist Alison Ledgerwood explores the negativity bias, the deeply human tendency to hold on to what went wrong and overlook what went…
For Sonja, researching happiness means being asked over and over again, “What is the secret to happiness?” Sonja has always dreaded that question. It’s ridiculous, it’s reductive, and it’s restrictive. But mostly she has…
Shooting cat-three landings in the fog, using the “voice of God” on unruly passengers, and declaring Mayday after an engine fire with Paul Drusch, a commercial airline pilot. Why does the pilot’s paycheck start with the…
Untangling who gets to speak for a dying patient, weighing a treatment's benefits against its burdens, and searching for clarity in the grayest corners of healthcare with Esther Berkowitz, a clinical ethicist. What is…
We all have moments in our lives when we see someone who could use a helping hand. It could be a friend who recently went through a breakup, or an older person trying to load groceries into their car. We tell ourselves…
When something feels natural and unfolds with ease, people often experience it as authentic. Think about the last time you felt completely like yourself. Maybe it was singing along at a concert, losing yourself in a…
Over the past few years, the social psychologist Ron Friedman has been studying what makes teams successful—really successful ...
Each summer, we read a novel and explore its themes through conversations with leading thinkers at the intersection of science and culture. This summer, we’ll read Flights by Polish author Olga Tokarczuk, the recipient…
The game was over. Babe, who had made one of his famous drives that day, was tired and wanted to go home. “Not tonight, Babe,” I said. “Tonight you go to college with me. You're going to take scientific tests which will…
Grinding through 16-hour shifts, standing behind inmates (never in front), and trying to stay human in an inhuman environment with Bill Farrell, a correctional officer in Massachusetts. What happens when an officer gets…
Many people avoid learning a new language because they remember stressful grammar lessons or fear making mistakes. But language experts say communication, culture, and connection matter far more than perfection. Modern…
Are you familiar with Bibb Latané’s theory of social impact, first introduced in 1981? Probably not. Although behavioral ...
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A new study suggests AI chatbots may do more than spread misinformation — they can actively strengthen a user’s false beliefs. Because conversational AI often validates and builds on what users say, it can make distorted…
A new twin study suggests your genes may play a bigger role in your future success than your upbringing. Researchers found that IQ, which is largely genetically influenced, strongly predicts education, career, and…
Each year, the SPSP Board of Directors votes on a slate of measures that will guide the organization’s work in the coming months. Here’s a quick recap of the motions that SPSP’s Board has approved: Want to learn more…
Researchers have developed a cutting-edge technique that uses RNA “barcodes” to map how neurons connect, capturing thousands of links with single-synapse precision. The method transforms brain mapping into a sequencing…
Andrew L. Stewart received his Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in Social Psychology from the University of Connecticut and his B.S. degrees in Psychology and Mathematics from Colorado State University. He has been at Clark…
Scientists have found that your brain separates memories into “what” and “where/when” using two different groups of neurons. One set responds to specific objects or people, while another tracks the context or situation…
Most of our daily actions may happen without much thought. Researchers found that around 65% of everyday behaviors are triggered automatically by habit rather than conscious decisions. Many of these habits actually…
For decades, scientists have mapped attention, memory, language, and reasoning to separate brain networks — yet one big mystery remained: why does the mind feel like a single, unified system? Researchers at the…
Why do we tip—even when we know we’ll never see the server again? New research suggests it’s not just about rewarding good service, but about social pressure. Some people tip out of genuine appreciation, while others…
Human language may seem messy and inefficient compared to the ultra-compact strings of ones and zeros used by computers—but our brains actually prefer it that way. New research reveals that while digital-style encoding…
For years, compulsive behaviors have been viewed as bad habits stuck on autopilot. But new research in rats found the opposite: inflammation in a key decision-making brain region actually made behavior more deliberate…
Couples who intentionally slow down and soak in their happy moments together may be building a powerful shield for their relationship. Researchers at the University of Illinois found that partners who regularly savor…
A new study suggests that generosity may be more than a moral lesson—it could be shaped by how different parts of the brain work together. By gently stimulating two brain regions and syncing their activity, researchers…
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