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violence

·April 30, 2021·6 min read

Young People Who Experience Bullying Are More Likely to Fantasize About Committing Acts of Violence

Experiencing bullying and aggression as a teen or young adult increases violent ideations, including thoughts of harming or killing others, a new study reports.

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·November 17, 2020·5 min read

The Neural Mechanisms Behind Support for Political Violence

People with strong moral and political convictions who saw images of protestors congruent to their own views showed activation in the brain's reward system. The study suggests violent acts in political protests can arise as a desire to act morally, rather than from bad intentions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 18, 2020·2 min read

How experiencing traumatic stress leads to aggression

Strengthened amygdala pathways increase aggression in those who have experienced trauma. The findings could lead to new treatments for PTSD.

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·May 12, 2020·4 min read

Not all psychopaths are violent. Study reveals why some are ‘successful’ instead

While psychopathy is generally associated with antisocial behaviors, many with the personality trait develop successful careers. A new study supports a novel model of psychopathy which runs contradictory to existing models of the disorder, focusing on the strengths associated with psychopathy, rather than just the deficits. Researchers found higher initial psychopathy was associated with a steeper increase of general inhibitory control and the inhibition of aggression over time. The effect was magnified among those who were "successful."

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 17, 2020·2 min read

Violence and adversity in early life can alter the brain

Exposure to violence and childhood adversity has a negative effect on the developing brain. Neuroimaging reveals adolescents who experienced adversity and violence as children had reduced connectivity between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. However, social support may act as a buffer and reduce the negative effects of early life stress.

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·December 31, 2019·7 min read

Justified and unjustified movie violence evokes different brain responses

Scenes of justified and unjustified violence in movies activate different areas of the adolescent brain. Unjustified violence activates the lateral orbital frontal cortex, while scenes where violence appears justified, activates the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

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·November 6, 2019·2 min read

Study questions video games’ effects on violent behavior

A new study backs previous findings that there is not enough evidence to support the view that violent video games lead to acts of violence.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 16, 2019·5 min read

Violent video games blamed more often for school shootings by white perpetrators

Video games are often blamed as a cause of mass shootings, especially if the perpetrator is white. When it comes to perpetrators of other racial backgrounds, people are more likely to assume they are involved in violent criminal activities. Blaming gaming for school shootings perpetrated by white people, and thereby providing an unfounded excuse for their actions, is a sign of a larger racial issue. Similar excuses aren't extended to people of other racial backgrounds. Instead, they are viewed as more culpable for their crimes.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 28, 2019·4 min read

Parental burnout can lead to harmful outcomes for parent and child

Psychologists warn parental burnout needs to be taken more seriously by both partners and clinicians. A new study reveals burnt out parents experience escape ideations, and show an increased risk of neglect and violence toward their children. Supporting a parent experiencing burnout by letting them relax and avoid exhaustion reduces negative feelings and is also good for the children.

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·August 16, 2019·3 min read

Political campaigns may influence acceptance of violence against women

Study links acceptance of violent attitudes toward women and more tolerance to 'rape culture' with a person's presidential candidate support in the 2016 election.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 4, 2019·3 min read

Understanding ’radicalizing environments’ key to tackling extremism

Vulnerability to extremism isn't just a matter of being psychologically susceptible to moral influence. It is also a matter of being susceptible to sustained exposure to settings that enable extremist socialization. A new study sets five categories of determinants which generate, or suppress, the risk of individuals acquiring extremist beliefs and engaging in extremist behaviors. The study proposes a framework for tackling lone-actor terrorist risks and the emergence of radicalizing environments.