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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.

You May Be As Friendly As Your Genes

Do you find it hard to make friends? It may be down to your genes. Researchers report young people with higher expression of the CD38 gene tend to be friendlier and more socially adept.

Anxiety Neural Response on Seeing Social Touch in Those With ASD

A new study reports some people on the autism spectrum show neural signs of anxiety when presented with images of people engaging in social touch, such as hand holding.

Like Adults, Children Show Bias in Attributing Mental States to Others

A new study reveals an early origin for certain social phenomena, including dehumanizing and bias between social groups.

Both Chimps and Humans Spontaneously Imitate Each Other’s Actions

Researchers reveal the social divide between chimps and humans isn't as clear cut as once thought. Observing both animals and visitors at a zoo, researchers discovered about 10% of the actions produced by one species was an imitation of the other species.

High Moral Reasoning Associated With Increased Reward System Activity

University of Pennsylvania researchers report people who report higher levels of moral reasoning show increased activity in brain areas associated with reward. The study may improve understanding as to why some people are more likely to engage in prosocial behaviors.

People Who Hear Voices Can Detect Hidden Speech in Unusual Sounds

A new study published in Brain reveals people who experience auditory vocal hallucinations are better at detecting hidden speech in ambiguous sounds than non voice-hearers.

Voter Behavior Influenced by Hot Weather

A new study reveals temperature may influence voter behavior. Researchers note increases in state temperatures between elections are related to increased voter turn out and support for the incumbent party. Additionally, higher temperatures motivated some to vote for smaller political parties.

Why Teens Take Risks: It’s Not a Deficit in Brain Development

Researchers report it might not be slowed prefrontal cortex development that drives teens to embark in risky behavior, as some common theories state. Instead, they argue, teens may make risky decisions as a means of experience building so they are better equipped at making important decisions later in life.

Image shows a child with her fingers crossed behind her back.

Watching Children Learn How to Lie

Researchers investigate children's thought processes as they figure out how to deceive others.

Human Characters, Not Animals, Teach Children Best Moral Lessons

Reading stories about humans, not anthropomorphic characters, teach moral lessons most effectively to young children a new study reports.

Communicating in a Foreign Language Takes Emotion Out of Decision-Making

Making a moral decision phrased in a non-native language makes people more utilitarian, researchers report. When faced with a moral dilemma phrased in a foreign language, people were more inclined to act toward a common good and express an emotional distance.