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UrduPeople from diverse religious backgrounds in the United States view curiosity about religion as morally virtuous, according to new research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science. Atheists also view this curiosity as moral, although less moral than a lack of religious curiosity.
Tag: Social Psychology
Many people feel their jobs are pointless
A sociological study by the University of Zurich confirms that a considerable proportion of employees perceive their work as socially useless. Employees in financial, sales and management occupations are more likely to conclude that their jobs are of little use to society.
New research reveals historic migration’s link to present-day implicit racial bias
Roughly six million Black people moved away from the American South during the Great Migration between 1910 and 1970, hoping to escape racial violence and discrimination while pursuing economic and educational opportunities. Now, research has uncovered a link between this historic event with present-day inequalities and implicit biases.
Positive contact with diverse groups can reduce belief in conspiracy theories about them
New research has shown that having positive contact with people from diverse groups can reduce the development of harmful intergroup conspiracy beliefs.
Are we really foreseeing break-ups?
“I knew they wouldn’t last!” is the reaction we often get when we tell others that a couple they know has broken up.
The science of attraction: why do we fall for certain people?
In a series of studies, Charles Chu, a BU Questrom School of Business assistant professor of management and organizations, tested the conditions that shape whether we feel attracted to—or turned off by—each other. He found one crucial factor was what psychologists call self-essentialist reasoning, where people imagine they have some deep inner core or essence that shapes who they are.
Some people may be attracted to others over minimal similarities
We are often attracted to others with whom we share an interest, but that attraction may be based on an erroneous belief that such shared interests reflect a deeper and more fundamental similarity—we share an essence—according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Lonely People’s Divergent Thought Processes May Contribute to Feeling “Alone in a Crowded Room”
Lonely individuals’ neural responses differ from those of other people, suggesting that seeing the world differently may be a risk factor for loneliness regardless of friendships.
Stereotyping veterans as heroes may limit their future careers
While much of the American public venerates people who enlist in the military, constantly referring to all veterans as “heroes” may direct them into lower-paying careers associated with selflessness, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
In negotiations, hoodwinking others has a cost, study finds
Lying to another person to get the better of them in a financial negotiation might win you more money, but you are likely to end up feeling guilty and less satisfied with the deal than if you had been honest, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Considering COVID a hoax is ‘gateway’ to belief in conspiracy theories
Belief that the COVID-19 pandemic was a hoax – that its severity was exaggerated or that the virus was deliberately released for sinister reasons – functions as a “gateway” to believing in conspiracy theories generally, new research has found.
WHEN ENDINGS APPROACH, PEOPLE CHOOSE THE FAMILIAR OVER THE NOVEL
When people believe that a door is closing — that they have a limited amount of time left to enjoy something, such as dining out or traveling — they gravitate to the comfort of something familiar rather than the excitement of something new, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Climate anxiety an important driver for climate action – new study
The first-ever detailed study of climate anxiety among the UK adult population suggests that whilst rates are currently low, people’s fears about the future of the planet might be an important trigger for action when it comes to adapting our high-carbon lifestyles to become more environmentally friendly.
Barriers to voting matter, but Americans overlook their impact
A new study of eligible voters in the 2020 election highlights how many Americans overlook the influence of external factors like child care constraints and transportation difficulties on voter turnout.
Cooperation among strangers has increased since the 1950s
Despite common concerns that the social fabric is fraying, cooperation among strangers has gradually increased in the U.S. since the 1950s, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Diversity messages may backfire when companies focus on diversity’s benefits for the bottom line
Companies that justify their diversity efforts by saying that a diverse workforce will improve their bottom line risk alienating the diverse employees that they hope to attract, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Fear, social context (not mental illness) fuel violent extremist views
Christine Reyna is director of the Social and Intergroup Perception Lab at DePaul University, where researchers examine how individuals and groups legitimize and leverage prejudice and discrimination to maintain status, cultural values and systems that benefit one’s own groups — often at the expense of others.
56% of young people are concerned about personal data security
Sociologists at the Ural Federal University (UrFU) have identified digital fears among young people.
Legal language affects how police officers are judged
Research by social psychology doctoral student Mikaela Spruill and her adviser, Neil Lewis Jr., assistant professor of communication, revealed that referring to police using the legal phrase “objectively reasonable” puts the officer in a more favorable light, regardless of race.
White people trained in mindfulness were three times more likely to help Black people in staged scenarios, new study finds
Could mindfulness change the way we treat people of other races? White people who received training in mindfulness meditation were three times more likely to help a Black person in staged scenarios than those who were not trained, according to a new study in Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Appearance fixation linked to dating anxiety
New research has discovered that young adults who are more focused on and concerned about their appearance are more likely to suffer from anxiety when dating.
Europeans want climate action but show little appetite for radical lifestyle change -– new polling
Europeans want urgent action on climate change but remain committed meat-eaters and question policy proposals such as banning the sale of new petrol vehicles after 2030, according to a new poll from the YouGov-Cambridge Centre for Public Opinion Research that surveyed environmental attitudes in seven European countries, including the UK.
People influence others – for better or worse
People are prone to overlooking the influence they have on others day to day. But we all have more influence than we think.
Studies examine different understandings, varieties of diversity
University of Illinois Chicago researchers detail findings from three studies that explore the connection between political ideology, attitudes, and beliefs toward diversity
Do atheists have a moral compass?
University of Illinois Chicago social psychologist examines what values people view as relevant for morality
UIC study examines high schoolers’ accuracy in classification of their peers
A new study led by University of Illinois Chicago researcher Rachel Gordon, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Texas at Austin, examines the accuracy of these peer group classifications based on similar values, behaviors, and interests.
Jealous feelings can act as a tool to strengthen friendships
Jealousy can be important for maintaining friendships, which are crucial to physical and emotional health. A study conducted by scientists at Arizona State University, Oklahoma State University, and Hamilton College found feelings of jealousy were sensitive to the value of the friendship and motivated behaviors aimed at keeping friends.
Studies examine how race affects perceptions of law-involved Blacks, school discipline
The extent of discriminatory treatment Black adults and children experience at every point of contact within the legal system and the biases that result in Black children’s behavior being managed more harshly in school are detailed in two new analyses from researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Jurors respond negatively to police overreactions to Black Americans
Psychology and criminal justice researchers are now trying to determine the various influences of body-worn camera footage, such as its impact on trial outcomes.
Using biology to explain social psychology of cultural differences wins theoretical prize at SPSP
The idea of using principles from biology as a theoretical framework for social psychologists to understand societal differences has won the 2019 Daniel M. Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Scientists from Arizona State University and the University of California, Irvine, used adaptive phenotypic plasticity, or how the environment of a living thing affects development and behavior, as a model for how people act in different societies.
The songwriter is creative – the singer, not so much
Country music songwriters must perform a careful dance when they work with famous singers who may be less talented at writing songs but bring the needed star power to attract fans – and, importantly, to get the song recorded in the first place, research suggests. A study of 39 successful country-music songwriters found that they use two strategies to navigate creative collaboration with more famous artists.
What your friends’ brains look like when they think of you
If you ever wondered what’s going on in your friends’ brains when they think about you, new research may provide a clue.
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BOOST SELF-ESTEEM, AND VICE VERSA
Does having close friends boost your self-esteem, or does having high self-esteem influence the quality of your friendships? Both, according to a meta-analysis of more than two decades of research, published by the American Psychological Association.