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Psychology News

These research articles involve many aspects of psychology such as cognitive psychology, depression studies, mental health, stress, happiness and neuropsychology, Scroll below for more specific categories.

Daytime Sleep Enhance Fear Memories of Emotional Trauma and Anxiety

Taking a short nap during the day can enhance memories of disturbing and fearful events, a new study reports.

TikTok Perpetuates Toxic Diet Culture Among Teens and Young Adults

The most viewed content on TikTok associated with food, nutrition, and weight perpetuates a toxic diet culture among teens and young adults, a new study reports.

A Gut-Brain Connection for Social Development

Healthy microbes in the gut encourage synaptic pruning in brain circuits associated with social behavior. Previous research has linked both poor synaptic pruning and gut health to neurodevelopmental disorders including ASD. The new findings could pave the way for treatments for disorders associated with social behavior deficits.

Sensitivity to Musical Rhythm Supports Social Development in Infants

Singing to an infant helps to support social development and interaction, researchers report.

Low Sense of Personal Control Increases People’s Affinity for Tighter, Rules-Based Culture

Those who feel they lack personal control over their lives tend to prefer a culture that imposes order. In turn, these "tighter" cultures perpetuate their existence by reducing a person's sense of individual control and increase their sense of collective control.

This shows a woman surrounded by different images of her face

Different People Interpret Facial Impressions Very Differently

The same facial expression can mean different things to different people.

Mass School Shootings Are Not Caused by Mental Illness

Most perpetrators of mass school shootings do not suffer from severe mental illness, a new study reports. When psychosis is present, mass murderers in an academic setting use means other than firearms to commit their crimes. Consistent with previous findings, the majority of mass school shooters are male and caucasian, and almost half of school shooting episodes end with the perpetrator's suicide.

Teenage Brains: What Is Happening and Why It Leads to More Risky Behaviors

Decision-making requires two different brain areas that mature at different times during the teenage years. This may help parents understand why their teens are more prone to making risky decisions.

This shows a statue of a suffering man behind barbed wire

Empathy for the Pain of the Conflicting Group Is Altered Across Generations in the Aftermath of a Genocide

Children of both perpetrators and survivors of genocide display the same ingroup biases of their parents, even though they did not experience the event themselves. This may explain why conflicts can last over generations. The study also suggests it is difficult for survivors and perpetrators to let go of intergroup biases following a tragedy.