Psychology news

• Your Brain Is Wired to Sees Faces in Everything, Which Ads Can Exploit

  24-07-2025 13:47 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Science Daily - Top HealthYou may see faces in clouds, toast, or cars because the human brain is wired to notice them. A fascinating new study shows how our attention is hijacked not only by real faces, but by face-like illusions, through entirely different mental mechanisms. These imaginary expressions actually spark a stronger response, and the research even hints at clever ways advertisers could use this effect to grab your attention.
  
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• When attacks unfold, what makes a person run towards danger?

  19-12-2025 18:12
  Neuroscientists, psychologists and ‘have-a-go heroes’ themselves explain why it is about more than just instinctAs a knife-wielding terrorist wearing a fake suicide belt caused panic on London Bridge in 2019, Darryn Frost remembers entering a state of intense focus.Having grabbed a decorative narwhal tusk from the wall of Fishmongers’ Hall, the formerly shy civil servant zoned in on the danger and ran towards it, helping pin the attacker to the ground. Continue reading...
  
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• Sure, Christmas isn’t all about presents – for those lucky enough to afford their own treats | Letter

  19-12-2025 18:10
  Those who suggest ‘not doing presents this year’ tend to be people who already have all the socks and candles they need, writes one readerThere’s a very particular phrase that circulates as Christmas approaches, usually delivered over a glass of wine: “Shall we just not do presents this year?”This is almost always suggested by people who already own everything. The sort of people who, if they fancy a new coffee Thermos at 8:42am, simply buy one. Socks? Ordered. Pyja
  
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• Trump Administration to Dismantle Key Climate Research Center

  18-12-2025 16:09 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: PBS News HourThe Trump administration is breaking up a research center praised as a "crown jewel" of climate research after accusing it of spreading "alarmism" about climate change. Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, described the National Center for Atmospheric Research as "one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country" in a social media post, consistent with President Trump's references to climate change as a...
  
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• Iran Curbs Women's Rights by Changing Dowry Law

  18-12-2025 16:08 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: DW- top storiesIn Iran, a groom or his family usually pays a dowry, or "Mehrieh," to his wife, often in gold coins—a sum that can be claimed by the wife at any time during a marriage or when getting divorced. Now, however, the Iranian parliament has lowered the amount a man must pay his wife in the event of divorce to avoid imprisonment—from 110 gold coins to just 14. The dowry had been the only legal tool to provide a modicum of security to divorced women...
  
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• Don’t hold back, swearing can boost performance by lowering inhibitions, study finds

  18-12-2025 15:21
  Study finds dropping an expletive can raise confidence and help people push harder during physically demanding tasksIt may not be in keeping with the festive spirit, but if you find yourself dropping the F-word while wrestling a Christmas tree up a flight of stairs, scientists say you could be on to something. A study has found that swearing can enhance physical performance by lowering inhibitions and pushing the brain into a “flow state”.“In many situations, people hold themse
  
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• When ‘How are you?’ becomes a painful question to answer | Letter

  17-12-2025 18:59
  Mark Cottle, who has metastatic prostate cancer, responds to an article by Carolin WürfelIt’s not just Germans like Carolin Würfel (16 December) who face a challenge with the question “How are you?” When I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, that question went from being a routine conversation-opener to something much trickier.The convention, in Britain at least, is to answer something like “Oh, not bad…” Frankly, things are ver
  
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• Psychologists Are Increasingly Using—and Worrying About—AI Tools

  17-12-2025 07:13 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: NPRAn estimated 56% of active psychotherapists are using artificial intelligence tools in their practices, according to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association. That's significantly higher than the 29% who said the same last year. And nearly a third of respondents said they use these tools on a monthly basis—up by more than two-fold since last year. At the same time, 60% of respondents expressed concern about potential harms of...
  
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• Grief, Loss, & the Good Life

  16-12-2025 19:24 via positivepsychologynews.com
  By Abimbola Tschetter -
  I’d like to invite you to join me in a brief thought experiment.What words come to mind when you think of positive psychology?If you’re like others I’ve asked, you may have said flourishing, resilience, relationships, or happiness—some of the most beautiful and sacred aspects of our lives. But I suspect, although they’re equally sacred and beautiful realities of our humanity, grief, sorrow, and loss may not have made your list. In this i
  
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• EU, in Climate Setback, Backtracks on Banning Gas-Powered Cars

  16-12-2025 16:59 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Google News - HealthPlans to ban the sale of new combustion engine cars in the European Union by 2035 have been thrown into turmoil after pressure from car manufacturers. On Tuesday, the European Commission proposed applying the ban, approved in 2023, to only 90% of vehicles, down from 100%. This means the remaining 10% of new cars made after 2035 could still have internal combustion engines. The announcement is seen as a blow to the EU's green credentials.
  
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• Children need mental health care provided by humans, not chatbots | Letter

  15-12-2025 19:02
  Dr Roman Raczka says artificial intelligence can’t replace therapist-led care, even though it can offer benefitsIt is absolutely right that children “need a human, not a bot” for mental health support (‘I feel it’s a friend’: quarter of teenagers turn to AI chatbots for mental health support, 9 December). Overuse of AI for mental health support could well lead to the next public health emergency if the government does not take urgent action.We shouldn&rsq
  
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• Endings are hard, but facing them helps us to heal

  15-12-2025 12:00
  I understand the temptation to run away – I have felt it too. Try to stay in the room, and in the moment. You’ll be glad you didThis is my last column for you. I am shocked and delighted that I’ve been allowed to carry on for almost two years, saying such controversial and true things as: the oedipal complex is real and all of us have one; psychodynamic psychotherapy is an effective and vital mental health treatment and we must fight for it in the NHS; and Midnight Run is the b
  
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• I hate this TV series I’m binge-watching, yet I’m on track to complete all 177 episodes. Why am I doing it? | Imogen West-Knights

  15-12-2025 11:00
  When I see those final House credits roll, I won’t even feel any sense of achievement – I will just be deciding on my next joylessly sisyphean taskThere are 177 episodes of House, the 00s hospital drama starring Hugh Laurie as a brilliant but cantankerous doctor. What this means, to my dismay, is that I spent five entire days, five hours and 15 minutes of this autumn watching this series. In my defence, when I embarked on this rewatch, I was going through quite a trying time in my li
  
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• Militant Groups Are Experimenting With AI; Risks Expected to Grow

  15-12-2025 10:18 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: PBS News HourAs the rest of the world rushes to harness the power of artificial intelligence, militant groups also are experimenting with the technology. For extremists, AI could be a powerful tool for recruiting new members, churning out deepfake videos, and refining cyberattacks, national security experts and spy agencies have warned. Even more concerning is the possibility that militant groups might use AI to help produce biological or chemical weapons.
  
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• How parents should talk to their children about the horror of the Bondi shootings | Vanessa Cobham for The Conversation

  15-12-2025 09:09
  I am a clinical psychologist and researcher with a focus on children, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Here are some things to keep in mindAs the community begins to grapple with the horror and tragedy of the Bondi shootings on Sunday, children will probably have questions. Parents may also be wondering how to talk to their young kids and teenagers about what happened.I am a clinical psychologist and researcher with a focus on children, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Here are some things t
  
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• South Korea Indicts Ex-Leader Yoon Over Plot to Provoke North Korea

  15-12-2025 08:05 via socialpsychology.org
  Source:Al JazeeraProsecutors have indicted former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for insurrection, accusing him of seeking to provoke military aggression from North Korea to help consolidate his power. Special prosecutor Cho Eun-seok told a briefing on Monday that his team had indicted Yoon, 5 former cabinet members, and 18 others following a six-month probe into his declaration of martial law in December of 2024—a decree quickly overruled as...
  
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• "Slop" Is Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2025

  15-12-2025 08:05 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Canadian Broadcasting Company - Top Stories NewsCreepy, zany, and demonstrably fake content is often called "slop." The word's spread online—thanks to the availability of generative artificial intelligence—landed it Merriam-Webster's 2025 word of the year. "It's part of a transformative technology, AI, and it's something that people have found fascinating, annoying and a little bit ridiculous," said Merriam-Webster's president Monday in an interview. "Slop" was first used in
  
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• Distressing videos can have a lasting impact – here’s how to look after yourself in the wake of the Bondi attack | Ahona Guha

  15-12-2025 04:19
  It’s natural to want information about a traumatic event but graphic imagery can cause a significant stress responseWhat we know about the Bondi terror attackLike everyone else, I watched news of the Bondi attack unfold last night with shock, horror and dismay. As I did so, I was immediately assailed by imagery of bodies lying on the ground, barely hidden from view. I closed these videos immediately, knowing the way this imagery can stick in your mind.When terrible events such as yesterday
  
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• Gunmen in Australia Kill at Least 11 in Attack at Hanukkah Celebration

  14-12-2025 07:23 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: CBS News - World NewsAt least eleven people were killed Sunday when gunmen targeted Jewish attendees of a Hanukkah holiday celebration that drew more than 1,000 people on Australia's popular Bondi Beach. Another 29 people were hospitalized with injuries, including a child and two officers, according to police, who are calling the tragedy an antisemitic terrorist attack. One suspected gunman was also killed—Naveed Akram, 24, a Pakistani national based in Sydney.
  
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• Trump Signs Executive Order Limiting States' Ability to Regulate AI

  14-12-2025 06:55 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: United Press International - Health NewsPresident Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that limits states' ability to regulate artificial intelligence companies. The order is designed to "enhance the United States' global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework," according to a release by the White House. The order marks a victory for tech companies like Google and OpenAI, which have as much as $100 million to spend on next year's midterm...
  
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• Review Challenges Idea That Highly Intelligent People Are Hyper-Empathic

  14-12-2025 06:55 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: PsyPostA new review challenges the assumption that highly intelligent people possess a heightened capacity for feeling the emotions of others. The analysis suggests that individuals high in intelligence often use a type of empathy that relies heavily on cognitive processing rather than emotional reactions. Published in the journal Intelligence, the paper proposes that these individuals may intellectualize feelings to maintain composure in difficult...
  
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• Kids' Anxiety and Depression Dropped Fast After COVID School Reopenings

  14-12-2025 06:55 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Science Daily - Top SocietyResearchers discovered that children who went back to school during COVID experienced far fewer mental health diagnoses than those who stayed remote. The study found that anxiety, depression, and ADHD all declined as in-person learning resumed, and that girls showed the largest improvements. Healthcare spending tied to these conditions also dropped. The report was published on December 8, 2025, in the journal Epidemiology.
  
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• Even Moderate Drinking Carries a Bigger Cancer Risk Than You Think

  14-12-2025 06:55 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Science Daily - Top HealthResearchers found that both how often and how much someone drinks significantly shape their cancer risk, even at moderate levels. Vulnerability varies across groups, with genetics, socioeconomic status, obesity, and lifestyle behaviors amplifying harm. The review, base on 62 studies, also uncovered gender differences, beverage-specific risks, and biological pathways that intensify cancer development. The findings appear in the journal Cancer...
  
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• AI May Help Amputees Connect With Their Bionic Hands

  14-12-2025 06:55 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: NPRResearchers have built a prosthetic hand that, with the help of artificial intelligence, can act more like a natural one. The key is to have the hand recognize when the user wants to do something, and then share control of the motions needed to complete the task. The approach, which combines AI with special sensors, helped people missing a hand simulate drinking from a cup, says the lead author of the study, published in the journal Nature...
  
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• U.S. State Department Reinstates Previous Font in Typeface About-Face

  13-12-2025 16:45 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: NPRThe U.S. State Department has reversed a Biden-era font change intended to make its paperwork more accessible to readers with disabilities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed diplomats around the world to switch from Calibri to Times New Roman 14-point font in all official documents, the State Department told NPR. Rubio said that the 2023 change by Biden's Secretary of State was part of misguided diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
  
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• Trump's DOJ Pressed Lawyers to Find Evidence UCLA Tolerated Antisemitism

  13-12-2025 13:28 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: ProPublicaA new investigation based on previously unreported documents and interviews with dozens of people reveals the extent to which the government violated legal and procedural norms to make a case that UCLA tolerated antisemitism. It also showed how the University of California system's dependence on federal money inhibited its willingness to resist the shakedown—a vulnerability the Trump administration's tactics brought into sharp focus.
  
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• Scientists Reveal a Tiny Brain Chip That Streams Thoughts in Real Time

  10-12-2025 10:58 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Science Daily - Top HealthBISC is an ultra-thin neural implant that creates a high-bandwidth wireless link between the brain and computers. Its tiny single-chip design packs tens of thousands of electrodes and supports advanced AI models for decoding movement, perception, and intent. Initial clinical work shows it can be inserted through a small opening in the skull and capture detailed neural activity. The technology could reshape treatments for epilepsy, paralysis, and...
  
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• South Korea to Require Advertisers to Label AI-Generated Ads

  10-12-2025 10:57 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: PBS News HourSouth Korea will require advertisers to label their ads made with artificial intelligence starting next year as it seeks to curb deceptive ads featuring fabricated experts or deep-faked celebrities endorsing products on social media. Following a policy meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Wednesday, officials said they will ramp up screening and removal of problematic AI-generated ads and impose punitive fines, citing growing risks...
  
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• Denmark to Compensate Indigenous Women for Forced Contraception

  10-12-2025 10:57 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: PBS News HourDenmark has agreed to compensate thousands of Indigenous women and girls in Greenland over cases of forcible contraception carried out by health authorities over decades starting in the 1960s. The Danish health ministry said Wednesday that women who were given contraception against their knowledge or consent between 1960 and 1991 can apply for individual payouts of about $46,000 starting in April. An estimated 4,500 women could be entitled to...
  
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• Millions of Americans Have Reported Domestic Violence in Past 5 Years

  09-12-2025 14:40 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: CBS News - U.S. NewsAlmost 5.4 million Americans have reported being victims of domestic violence over the last five years, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The majority, nearly 80%, were women. And according to the FBI, domestic homicides more than doubled between 2019 and 2024, increasing from 1,065 to 2,339. Indeed, a CBS News analysis of FBI data found that 24% of all reported violent crime is now domestic in nature. The latest data have experts...
  
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