An analysis of selfies shared publicly on Twitter and Instagram found that women living in environments with higher equal inequality and where people are preoccupied with their relative social standing are more likely to publish sexy self-photos. These areas also had higher sales of goods and services related to female physical appearance enhancement. The research was published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Cultural sexualization of women refers to the process in which women’s bodies and identities are treated primarily as objects of sexual desire through cultu...
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A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that across all political and social groups in the United States, there is a strong preference against living near AR-15 rifle owners and neighbors who store guns outside of locked safes. This surprising consensus suggests that when it comes to immediate living environments, Americans’ views on gun control may be less divided than the polarized national debate suggests. The research was conducted against a backdrop of increasing gun violence and polarization on gun policy in the United States. The United St...
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In a recent study, a team of scientists investigated how perceived facial dominance, indicated by the facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR), affected student evaluations of teaching. Their study found that higher fWHR enhanced evaluations for male professors but appeared to detrimentally affect female professors’ scores. The findings, published in Economics & Human Biology provide evidence for a gender-based double standard in academia that punishes women more harshly for perceived dominance. The fWHR is calculated by dividing the width of the face by its height, and studies have suggested that ...
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Recent research has illuminated how the “wine mom” phenomenon, prevalent on social media and television, influences mothers’ attitudes towards alcohol. This study found that the portrayal of mothers consuming alcohol as a stress-relief mechanism on platforms like Instagram and Facebook could encourage risky drinking behaviors by shaping social norms around alcohol consumption among mothers. The findings have been published in the journal Psychology of Popular Media. The “wine mom” phenomenon promotes the idea that alcohol is a necessary coping tool for motherhood’s challenges, often via humoro...
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A recent study of incarcerated women found that those with pronounced psychopathic traits tended to hold their head more rigidly during a clinical interview. The study used an automated detection algorithm to assess head position and dynamics. The research was published in Personality and Individual Differences. Psychopathic traits are a specific cluster of personality characteristics that include a profound lack of empathy and remorse resulting in indifferent or callous attitudes towards others. Individuals with high levels of psychopathic traits tend to display shallow emotional responses an...
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A recent study published in the Journal of Individual Differences has shed light on the psychological factors influencing conspiracy thinking. The research found that existential isolation and alienation are both significant predictors of conspiracy beliefs. However, loneliness did not have a significant impact on such beliefs. Conspiracy theorists are frequently stereotyped as isolated individuals, often depicted as reclusive figures wearing “tinfoil hats.” But this image has evolved significantly, with contemporary research recognizing that conspiracy beliefs are no longer fringe phenomena b...
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New research published in theJournal of Personality & Social Psychology found that stable personality traits not only predict important life outcomes like health, happiness, and career success, but that even small changes in our personality over time can shape our future in meaningful ways. Personality traits, defined as enduring characteristics that influence how we think, feel, and behave, are pivotal in predicting a range of life outcomes. The Big Five personality framework—encompassing openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—is often used to study these tr...
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In a recent study published in the American Journal of Political Science, researchers investigated whether online interventions could enhance state and local news consumption among Pennsylvanians in today’s highly polarized and national-focused media landscape. But despite offering free online newspaper subscriptions to more than 2,000 individuals, only 44 people in total signed up. Local newspapers have played a crucial role in informing residents about regional politics, providing in-depth coverage essential for making informed decisions at the polls. However, over recent decades, there has ...
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A new study published in American Behavioral Scientist sheds light on the relationship between anxiety and support for right-wing populist parties. The findings highlight that anxiety plays a significant role in shaping contradictory attitudes, driving both authoritarian submission and anti-elitism in different contexts. Previous research has shown conflicting evidence regarding the link between anxiety and support for right-wing populist parties. The new study aimed to clarify this relationship by examining how two seemingly opposing subdimensions of right-wing ideology — authoritarian submis...
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A study of individuals with amphetamine use disorder has found that they have altered neural response patterns when anticipating rewards or losses compared to individuals without this disorder. This potentially reflects an impairment in dopamine function, which may influence their decision-making. The research was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Amphetamines are potent stimulant drugs that affect the central nervous system. Some amphetamines are prescribed by medical professionals to treat conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (uncont...
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