Social Psychology
The Psychology of Choosing a Seat
You walk into a crowded café. There are two empty seats. Which one do you choose? There are a surprising number of psychological considerations that can go into this choice. If you’re like me, you’re probably going to choose the seat that is the furthest from everyone else in the café. Call me antisocial, but…
Read More
Communication Is Key for Sexual Satisfaction
You might not think to look through the scientific literature to spice up your sex life, but it turns out that psychology researchers have some ideas about what makes good sex – and some data to back those ideas up. In a recent meta-analysis, researchers at University of Texas reviewed studies on the link between…
Read More
6 Predictors of Relationship Satisfaction
Happy Valentine’s day! Or is it? That might depend on how satisfied you are with your relationship. It’s hard to define what makes a good relationship, but scientists have a few ideas. Here are 6 factors that have been linked to relationship satisfaction. 1. Knowing your partner’s emotions It’s easier to navigate a relationship when…
Read More
Subtle Linguistic Cues Can Discourage Young Girls From an Interest in Science
The language we use to talk about gender makes a difference. Last year, for example, I wrote about a study showing that previously being exposed to gender-neutral language affects how likely people are to assume that a “specialist” is male. But a new study suggests that even seemingly innocuous language that doesn’t directly reference gender…
Read More
Social Media Use Today Could Mean Memory Slips Tomorrow
Go on a Facebook binge, and the consequence might be … I’m sorry, where was I? A new study by researchers at the University of Michigan implicates social media usage in higher rates of everyday memory failures such as forgetting whether you’ve already done something, or what it is you were going to do for…
Read More
How Have Social Attitudes Changed in the Last Decade?
People’s attitudes toward different social groups tend to change over time. But how have people’s attitudes in the United States changed in recent years? A pair of researchers from Harvard University decided to tackle this complex question by asking an average of 3,700 people every month for a decade, essentially, how racist, homophobic, agist and…
Read More
Social Ostracism Linked to Internet Addiction
To understand people’s online behavior, it’s worth looking at what’s happening in their offline lives. That’s one takeaway from a new study published in the journal Psychiatry Research showing a relationship between social ostracism and internet addiction. Previous research has suggested that social factors play into excessive internet usage. As the authors point out, studies…
Read More
Extraversion: Can You Fake It ‘Til You Make It?
Our society tends to value people who are social, outgoing, and action-oriented – that is, extraverts. Indeed, there’s plenty to like about being extraverted. Extraverts enjoy higher levels of happiness on average, partly because they have higher levels of social support. But is extraverted behavior an ideal that we should all strive for? In the…
Read More
The Science of Having Sex With Your Ex
Some psychology studies provide practical insights with obvious applications in everyday life. Today brings an example of one of those studies, in the form of a paper titled Pursuing Sex With an Ex: Does It Hinder Breakup Recovery?, published in Archives of Sexual Behavior. The study investigated – well, pretty much exactly what the title…
Read More
Study: People You Meet Probably Like You More Than You Think
A theme that often comes up on this blog is that people tend to be biased in their judgments about themselves and about the way other people see them. In many situations, it’s as if people are wired not to see themselves accurately. On one hand, people tend to overestimate their own traits in a…
Read More