BPS Research Digest

New students have a whole lot of misconceptions about psychology | BPS Recent research from the US finds new starters in the discipline endorse a surprisingly high number of misconceptions and myths.

Recent research from the US finds new starters in psychology endorse a surprisingly high number of misconceptions and myths: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Delirium after surgery speeds up memory decline in older adults | BPS A new study finds post-operative delirium poses cognitive risk later in life.

Post-operative delirium poses cognitive risk later in life, says recent study: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

All-or-nothing thinking is ruining your gym routine | BPS New research identifies a major psychological sticking point for those looking to keep up exercise habits.

New research identifies a major psychological sticking point for those looking to keep up exercise habits: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Many thanks to Franziska and Rotem for putting this piece together. If you'd like to write something similar about your research for us, feel free to get in touch at psychologist@bps.org.uk with the subject 'For Digest'.

Can NHS-branded facemasks save lives? | BPS Franziska Busch presents new research by Rotem Perach and team, which finds that facemasks bearing logos can help persuade some unvaccinated people to listen to health guidance.

Can NHS-branded facemasks save lives?

Franziska Busch presents new research by Rotem Perach and team, which finds that facemasks bearing logos can help persuade some unvaccinated people to listen to health guidance: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

New students have a whole lot of misconceptions about psychology | BPS Recent research from the US finds new starters in the discipline endorse a surprisingly high number of misconceptions and myths.

Students usually come out of introductory psychology courses feeling highly informed. But recent research from the US finds that these new starters endorse a surprisingly high number of misconceptions and myths: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

New study highlights the day-to-day importance of autistic flow | BPS Work by Daniella Wain and colleagues details a non-pathologising view of flow states in autistic individuals, and how they maintain wellbeing

Recent work by Daniella Wain and colleagues details a non-pathologising view of flow state in autistic individuals, and how it helps to maintain wellbeing: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

What's it like to live with alopecia? | BPS A new paper takes a bird's-eye view on research into lived experiences of hair loss.

A new paper takes a bird's-eye view on research into lived experiences of hair loss: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

There isn’t just one route to mental wellbeing | BPS New research analyses the effects of several wildly different day-to-day strategies to maintain mental health.

New research analyses the effects of several wildly different day-to-day strategies to maintain mental health: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Parenthood dampens your sense of disgust — but only after beginning weaning | BPS Recent research probes the dynamics of parental gross outs.

Recent research probes the dynamics of parental gross outs: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Your choice of treat isn’t as spontaneous as you think | BPS New study finds patterns in what we self-gift in response to different emotions.

New study finds patterns in what we self-gift in response to different emotions: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Morbid curiosity may have benefits for survival | BPS A new paper outlines how our obsession with the morbid may have conveyed survival advantages throughout our evolutionary history.

A new paper outlines how our obsession with the morbid may have conveyed survival advantages throughout our evolutionary history: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Episode 45: Psychology needs a ... revolution! | BPS What kind of revolution, if any, does psychology need? In this episode, we hear from contributors to the March 2026 issue of The Psychologist.

If you follow us, you probably love psychology. But would you love it more if it did something just a little bit better?

In this new episode of PsychCrunch, we explore what in psychology, if anything, needs a revolution. Check it out! www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

To get through the last push, zoom out | BPS Recent study provides some practical advice for getting to the end of a dull project.

Friday morning, when the weekend feels so close, yet so far...

A new study offers a tip to make it through the last boring tasks of the week: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

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Episode 45: Psychology needs a ... revolution! | BPS What kind of revolution, if any, does psychology need? In this episode, we hear from contributors to the March 2026 issue of The Psychologist.

If you follow us, you probably love psychology. But would you love it more if it did something just a little bit better?

In this new episode of PsychCrunch, we explore what in psychology, if anything, needs a revolution. Check it out! www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Gen Z is better at recognising their generation’s faces than boomers’ | BPS A recent study demonstrates the own-age bias in face recognition.

Are you better at recognising people your own age? A recent study demonstrates the own-age bias in face recognition in the new generation: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Kids that play games with gambling-like features are more likely to start gambling for real | BPS New research charts the path from virtual gambling to real betting

New research charts the path from virtual gambling to real betting: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Are they really listening? One clue could lie in their blinks. | BPS New research finds that blinking betrays whether someone is listening intently.

New research finds that blinking betrays whether someone is listening intently: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Virtual dates can be just as good as in-person dates, says new study | BPS A recent paper puts virtual and face-to-face dating head-to-head, finding that even for sceptics, a virtual date can be just as lovely.

A recent paper puts virtual and face-to-face dating head-to-head, finding that even for sceptics, a virtual date can be just as lovely: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

“A practical framework for something I intuitively recognised, but hadn’t been able to name” | BPS In a recent issue of The Psychologist, we asked readers to tell us about a paper that changed their life. Ayad Marhoon (University of Leeds) answered the call:

In a recent issue of The Psychologist, we asked readers to tell us about a paper that changed their life. Ayad Marhoon (University of Leeds) answered the call: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

(If you'd like to make a similar contribution, see the end of the article!)

Is overconfidence a trait? | BPS A recent paper based on an adversarial collaboration finds some common ground.

"Despite consensus around the importance of overconfidence, scholars disagree about whether [it] qualifies as a trait." A new adversarial collaboration finds some common ground on the topic: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Half of those arrested in London may have undiagnosed ADHD | BPS New research finds that those with ADHD are overrepresented in London arrests, suggesting need for additional targeted support.

New research finds that those with ADHD are overrepresented in London arrests, suggesting need for additional targeted support: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

For intercultural relationships, whose support matters most? | BPS New study explores the value placed on support from family, friends, and society by those in various kinds of intercultural relationships.

New study explores the value placed on support from family, friends, and society by those in various kinds of intercultural relationships: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Half of those arrested in London may have undiagnosed ADHD | BPS New research finds that those with ADHD are overrepresented in London arrests, suggesting need for additional targeted support.

New research finds that those with ADHD are overrepresented in London arrests, suggesting need for additional targeted support: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Overwhelming majority of women in STEM may feel like impostors | BPS A small new study from the US finds surprisingly high amount of women in STEM feel like they don’t belong in their positions.

A small new study from the US finds a surprisingly high amount of women in STEM feel like they don’t belong in their positions: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

New study makes a great case for weekend lie ins | BPS For teens and young adults, catching up on sleep over the weekend can guard against low mood, according to new research.

Happy Friday! It's nearly the weekend, so let's talk about lying in. 💤

For teens and young adults, catching up on sleep over the weekend can guard against low mood, according to new research: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

New study finds the words to show you care | BPS Recent work from the US explores specific language that has an emotional impact on others.

When you want to show you care, which words do you choose? Recent work finds a few: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Overwhelming majority of women in STEM may feel like impostors | BPS A small new study from the US finds surprisingly high amount of women in STEM feel like they don’t belong in their positions.

A small new study from the US finds a surprisingly high amount of women in STEM feel like they don’t belong in their positions: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

New study finds the words to show you care | BPS Recent work from the US explores specific language that has an emotional impact on others.

When you want to show you care, which words do you choose? Recent work finds a few: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...