Do atheists have a moral compass?
University of Illinois Chicago social psychologist examines what values people view as relevant for morality
Social Psychology
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.