Current reporting, research and professional developments across Social Psychology, curated for psychologists and behavioral-health professionals.
Social psychology presents itself as liberal, yet its dominant narratives—obedience, cruelty, conformity, and bias—reflect a persistently pessimistic portrayal of human nature. Here I argue that this ...
When a group bursts into laughter, many people instinctively glance at one person. Psychology explains why this happens and whether it really reveals your closest emotional connection.
Pain feels like a simple message from the body. If your elbow hurts, there must be something wrong with your elbow. If your back is painfully stiff, you need some work done on your back. But psychologist Rachel Zoffness…
Nature Human Behaviour, Published online: 20 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02530-4Climate change and misinformation are interconnected global crises shaped by tensions between individual, collective and vested…
The year was 1948. Only three years had passed since the Axis powers signed the instrument of surrender effectively ending the Second World War. Fifty nations had taken part in the conflict that saw genocide and the…
A low-cost antidepressant may offer new hope for people struggling with long COVID fatigue. In a randomized clinical trial involving 399 adults, fluvoxamine significantly reduced fatigue and improved quality of life…
Nature Human Behaviour, Published online: 16 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02518-0Yang et al. found that trauma is highly prevalent among LGBTQ+ individuals in China and linked to depression. Unhealthy behaviours…
As we move through the world, it’s easy to imagine we’re processing everything that happens around us and then deciding how to respond. But psychologist and neuroscientist Norman Farb says our brains actually navigate…
Nature Human Behaviour, Published online: 15 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02508-2Practicing components of a problem often improves later performance in the full problem, but can also hinder it. Mi and Summerfield…
Peek inside the world of highly private, selective women who choose quiet solitude, minimal houseguests, and a very small inner circle over social noise ...
Nature Human Behaviour, Published online: 13 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02524-2Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming classrooms, and promising adaptive teaching and personalized education. However, AI tools…
Nature Human Behaviour, Published online: 13 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02527-zFrom fake reviews that harm businesses, to humorous reviews that mock consumerism, to culture-war review bombing, some online reviews…
Nature Human Behaviour, Published online: 13 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02529-xThe unspoken tensions that AI brings to academic collaboration
Nature Human Behaviour, Published online: 13 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02528-yAI detection risks undermining academic integrity
Preparing for a difficult conversation with AI makes people more likely to have it in real life. Can you think of a difficult conversation that you are considering having with someone in the next week? When we asked more…
Nature Human Behaviour, Published online: 10 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02491-8Associations between polygenic indices and cognitive ability in children increase with age while rare damaging variant associations…
Psychology suggests that people who always like company while eating aren't dependent or lonely. For many people, food satisfies hunger. Sharing it satisfies the equally human need to connect.
Research from Aston University has shown that there is no clearly accepted definition for the term ‘social media’ by the public, or what websites and ...
The emotional impact of online interactions depends on the quality of offline relationships. During the pandemic, college students were abruptly asked to leave their campus dorms and transition to online learning, giving…
Last week, we talked with psychologist Lisa Miller about the science of spirituality. Today, we explore what those ideas can look like in everyday life. Miller explains why moments of connection, spiritual practices, and…
Think your political opponents won’t listen? They may be more open-minded than expected. There is a growing problem with political polarization. People on the left and the right sides of the political spectrum disagree…
You can learn how to avoid being fooled by persuasive but misleading arguments. People sometimes win debates using reasoning “cheat codes”—arguments that sound convincing but don’t actually support the conclusion. Many…
A brief conversation with a cashier, neighbour, fellow commuter, or another stranger often feels too insignificant to matter, yet psychology suggests these everyday interactions contribute more to ...
For your intellectual travels this summer, we’ve curated a baker’s dozen of behavioral science books newly published this year. Explore the mysteries of life and consciousness, glimpse the power of constraints and the…
Sequencing departures like a moving puzzle, scrambling when a jet takes off without clearance, and catching what radar misses with a glance out the window with Michael Rejent, an air traffic controller. What does "tally…
Hugging a mother through an anxiety attack, bidding for the best routes, and absorbing strangers' confessions at 35,000 feet with Linda Beall, a flight attendant. What does it mean when the cabin bells ring three or four…
Leaving a party, family gathering, or long meeting and immediately wanting silence is often mistaken for a dislike of people, but daily-life research suggests a different explanation. A longitudinal ...
Asexual people benefit less from romantic relationships compared to heterosexual and other sexual minorities. Romantic relationships are often seen as one of the main ways people find happiness, connection, and…
We taught people how to soften the blow of social rejection, but could they do it under pressure? Unless you’re a bully, you probably dread it when you must socially reject someone. Sometimes, social rejection is…
Conferences are highly important events for anyone in academia. They are an opportunity to update your research knowledge, meet people who work in your same field, share your research findings with both the lay public…
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