Relationships, Community, & Social Psychology

The Psychology of Choosing a Seat

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 ...
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/ / Behavioral Psychology, Relationships, Social Psychology
Communication Is Key for Sexual Satisfaction

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 – ...
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/ / Communication, Sex, Social Psychology
6 Predictors of Relationship Satisfaction

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 ...
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/ / Emotion-Affective Psychology, Mindfulness, Relationships, Sex, Social Psychology
Subtle Linguistic Cues Can Discourage Young Girls From an Interest in Science

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 ...
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/ / Children, Cognitive Psychology, Language, Social Justice, Social Psychology
Social Media Use Today Could Mean Memory Slips Tomorrow

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 ...
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/ / Cognitive Psychology, Memory, Social Media, Social Psychology
How Have Social Attitudes Changed in the Last Decade?

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 ...
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/ / Relationships, Social Justice, Social Psychology
Social Ostracism Linked to Internet Addiction

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 ...
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/ / Addiction, Behavioral Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Internet, Media Psychology & Technology, Relationships, Social Psychology
Extraversion: Can You Fake It 'Til You Make It?

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, ...
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/ / Behavioral Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Extroversion, Relationships, Social Psychology
The Science of Having Sex With Your Ex

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 ...
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/ / Relationships, Sex, Social Psychology
Study: People You Meet Probably Like You More Than You Think

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, ...
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/ / Friendships, Social Psychology