PsyPost

A sense of shared power predicts a healthier sex life in married couples New research reveals a powerful link between a couple's daily interactions and their sexual well-being. A study of nearly 1,700 couples shows that a mutual sense of influence in the marriage predicts a more positive and less inhibited sex life.

A sense of shared power predicts a healthier sex life in married couples

New study finds “superagers” have younger-looking brains over time Researchers have found that older adults with exceptional memory—called superagers—tend to have biologically younger brains. The study, published in GeroScience, shows their brains not only appear younger but also age at a slower rate.

New study finds “superagers” have younger-looking brains over time

Positive porn attitudes linked to better sexual well-being in young women Researchers investigated how young women’s beliefs about pornography relate to sexual well-being. The findings suggest that positive attitudes are linked to greater satisfaction and comfort with sex, primarily through enhanced sexual communication.

Positive porn attitudes linked to better sexual well-being in young women

Taylor Swift’s accent: Scientists trace the evolution of singer’s dialect Taylor Swift’s voice has shifted as her career and surroundings have changed. A new study in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America tracks how her speech patterns evolved across Nashville, Philadelphia, and New York, revealing how accents reflect identity.

Taylor Swift’s accent: Scientists trace the evolution of singer’s dialect

People with dark personality traits show less concern for animal rights Researchers have found evidence that certain dark personality traits, especially psychopathy and sadism, are associated with speciesist beliefs. The findings point to a psychological link between antisocial tendencies, low empathy, and reduced moral concern for animals.

People with dark personality traits show less concern for animal rights

Children who “play like boys” in preschool show better spatial abilities a decade later A new 10-year study finds that preschool children who engage in masculine-typical play develop stronger spatial skills by adolescence. This long-term association was found in both boys and girls, suggesting early play experiences have a lasting impact on cognition.

Children who “play like boys” in preschool show better spatial abilities a decade later

Perceived financial hardship linked to depression, especially in the wealthy A person’s perception of their finances is a powerful predictor of depression, a new study reveals. This link is unexpectedly strongest not among the poor, but among wealthy individuals who feel financially strained.

Perceived financial hardship linked to depression, especially in the wealthy

Hybristophilia: Study links TikTok to women’s sexual attraction to criminals For some young women, a sexual attraction to criminals may be linked to their TikTok habits and personality. A recent study found that engaging with videos that romanticize offenders, along with having higher psychopathy scores, predicted greater hybristophilic tendencies.

Hybristophilia: Study links TikTok to women’s sexual attraction to criminals

Chants across cultures share features that promote relaxation A cross-cultural study published in PNAS provides evidence that chants share distinct acoustic traits that promote relaxation. These features, including flat pitch and slow tempo, may explain why chanting has persisted in spiritual and healing practices worldwide.

Chants across cultures share features that promote relaxation

Dictators look more trustworthy than monarchs While voters in democracies are drawn to competent-looking leaders, authoritarian elites appear to value trustworthiness above all. A recent study found that dictators selected for office look more trustworthy than monarchs, suggesting a preference for faces that signal loyalty.

Dictators look more trustworthy than monarchs

New study across 20 countries suggests guilt, not shame, motivates generosity A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour explores how emotions like guilt and shame influence generous behavior across cultures. By examining decision-making in diverse societies, the researchers aimed to understand what drives people to help others.

New study across 20 countries suggests guilt, not shame, motivates generosity

New longitudinal study reveals how masturbation habits evolve from young adulthood to midlife Masturbation is a common sexual behavior, but how do these habits change as people navigate adulthood? A new longitudinal study published in The Journal of Sex Research tracked thousands of individuals for decades to map the developmental trajectory of this private practice.

New longitudinal study reveals how masturbation habits evolve from young adulthood to midlife

Surprising finding emerges from psychology study on lip size and attractiveness The desire for plumper lips may be driven more by women than men. A recent study shows that preferences for lip size are largely shaped by own-gender biases, challenging assumptions about who cosmetic procedures appeal to.

Surprising finding emerges from psychology study on lip size and attractiveness

Children with ADHD tend to perceive visual illusions differently New findings published in the Journal of Attention Disorders suggest that children with ADHD perceive certain visual illusions differently. These differences may reflect subtle changes in how their brains process visual information, offering clues about attention and perception.

Children with ADHD tend to perceive visual illusions differently

Trump supporters diverge from other gun owners on views of democracy, study finds New research reveals that partisanship, specifically support for Donald Trump, splits gun owners on democratic values. While the group as a whole is no less democratic than non-owners, a pro-Trump subgroup holds significantly less supportive views on key issues.

Trump supporters diverge from other gun owners on views of democracy, study finds

Scientists analyzed 38 million obituaries and found a hidden story about American values A brief obituary often stands as the final public word on a life. By studying millions of these memorials, researchers hoped to uncover what people consistently honor, remember, and preserve—and what that might tell us about society’s deeper values.

Scientists analyzed 38 million obituaries and found a hidden story about American values

Heart rate patterns may predict success in elite military selection, new research suggests Subtle fluctuations in your heartbeat may reveal your capacity for resilience under pressure. According to a new study, this measure, called heart rate variability, was higher in military candidates who successfully passed an intense special operations forces selection course.

Heart rate patterns may predict success in elite military selection, new research suggests

Are conservative evangelical men really more insecure about their penis size? A bold theory has suggested that conservative Protestant men feel more insecure about their bodies, especially when it comes to penis size. A new study puts that idea to the test using national survey data from over 1,800 American men.

Are conservative evangelical men really more insecure about their penis size?

Does bad sleep make ADHD homework problems worse? Many adolescents with ADHD struggle with both sleep and homework, creating a nightly challenge for families. Researchers recently investigated the connection between these issues, exploring whether poor sleep directly contributes to the academic difficulties often seen in these teens.

Does bad sleep make ADHD homework problems worse?

Just a few chats with a biased AI can alter your political opinions Artificial intelligence chatbots are now a part of daily life, but these systems contain inherent biases from their training data. A new study investigates a pressing question: How might a chatbot's hidden political leanings influence a user's own opinions and decisions?

Just a few chats with a biased AI can alter your political opinions

Neuroscientists are starting to unravel the amygdala’s complexity, shedding new light on PTSD Often labeled the brain’s fear center, the amygdala is much more complex than that. A study in Translational Psychiatry suggests that PTSD is linked to altered connectivity in one of its subregions, with potential implications for emotion and body awareness.

Neuroscientists are starting to unravel the amygdala’s complexity, shedding new light on PTSD

Psilocybin-assisted group therapy may help reduce depression and burnout among healthcare workers In a pilot study, physicians and nurses who took part in mindfulness training combined with psilocybin therapy experienced greater reductions in depression symptoms than those who practiced mindfulness alone, offering preliminary evidence for a new approach to burnout treatment.

Psilocybin-assisted group therapy may help reduce depression and burnout among healthcare workers

Researchers studied the shift from singlehood to dating. Three key areas stood out. Romantic relationships are often assumed to enhance well-being, but evidence for that assumption remains debated. A new study tracked over 3,000 single adults to examine whether entering a romantic relationship leads to meaningful changes across several areas of life.

Researchers studied the shift from singlehood to dating. Three key areas stood out.

These facts about dark personalities seem too weird to be true but are backed by science We often imagine people with dark personalities as obvious villains. But science reveals a far stranger truth, showing how these traits influence everything from head movements to vulnerability to email scams.

These facts about dark personalities seem too weird to be true but are backed by science

Gossip might do more for your relationship than you think, study suggests Gossip often carries a bad reputation, dismissed as petty or harmful. Yet new research suggests that when couples share gossip, it may serve a constructive role.

Gossip might do more for your relationship than you think, study suggests

Five cultural tendencies might explain the “East Asian happiness puzzle” East Asia’s wealth and democracy do not translate into higher happiness scores, unlike in the West. A new study suggests five cultural habits may explain this persistent “East Asian happiness puzzle.”

Five cultural tendencies might explain the “East Asian happiness puzzle”

Scientists uncover molecular link between high salt and cognitive decline A study in Advanced Science has pinpointed how a high-salt diet can lead to cognitive decline. Researchers found excess salt disrupts a specific molecular pathway in the brain, causing the loss of a protein essential for healthy neuron connections.

Scientists uncover molecular link between high salt and cognitive decline

Your perception of loudness bends to what you know, according to fascinating new psychology research A new study finds that people hear familiar words as louder than nonsense words, even when both are equally loud. The results suggest that our brains rely on language knowledge to shape how we perceive even simple qualities like sound intensity.

Your perception of loudness bends to what you know, according to fascinating new psychology research

Simplistic thinking and rejecting democracy: Scientists find “strikingly” strong link People who defend the system and those who reject it may share a surprising trait: support for antidemocratic ideas. A new study finds that authoritarianism, distrust, and simplistic thinking predict rejection of core democratic values.

Simplistic thinking and rejecting democracy: Scientists find “strikingly” strong link

“Only the tip of the iceberg:” Misophonia may reflect deeper psychological realities A new study provides evidence that misophonia is linked to difficulties in adapting to emotional demands and switching thoughts. The findings point to cognitive and emotional rigidity that may underlie sound sensitivity symptoms.

“Only the tip of the iceberg:” Misophonia may reflect deeper psychological realities