BPS Research Digest

We underestimate how much civil discussion can change minds | BPS New research suggests civil conversations often have more impact than we anticipate.

New research suggests civil conversations often have more impact than we anticipate: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Rituals that 'push' or 'pull' luck feel more effective | BPS A recent study probes the psychological effects of physical motions in lucky rituals.

Feeling lucky, Bluesky? Here's how to feel even luckier. 🍀

A recent study explores the psychological effects of physical motions in lucky rituals: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Acute and chronic depression appear differently in the brain | BPS New research finds differences in inflammation and microstructure in a mood-, motivation-, and reward-related brain region between acute and chronically depressed people.

New research finds differences in inflammation and microstructure in a mood-, motivation-, and reward-related brain region between acute and chronically depressed people: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Having fun isn’t easy | BPS Playing for fun, rather than the win, prompts kids to up the difficulty, according to a new study.

Playing for fun, rather than the win, prompts kids to up the difficulty, according to a new study: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

We underestimate how much civil discussion can change minds | BPS New research suggests civil conversations often have more impact than we anticipate.

New research suggests civil conversations often have more impact than we anticipate: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

A good scare can bring us together | BPS Shared recreational fear experiences increase feelings of closeness within social groups.

Who doesn't love a good scare? 👻

New research shows that shared recreational fear experiences bring us closer to friends: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Letting loose may give swearing its strength-boosting power | BPS A new study explores how disinhibition might give swearing its performance-enhancing effects.

A new study explores whether disinhibition might give swearing its performance-enhancing effects: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Does fasting make it hard to think? | BPS A new review challenges the idea that fasting always compromises cognition.

Here's one for those of us thinking about diets involving fasting this January.

A new review challenges the idea that fasting always compromises cognition: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Deaf people seem better at reading facial expressions | BPS New research finds that, at least in lab settings, those who are deaf are “better adapted to a visual world”.

New research finds that, at least in lab settings, those who are deaf are better at reading facial expressions: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

The objectification of girls starts young | BPS New research finds that young girls are more readily associated with objects than young boys.

New research finds that even early in life, girls are more readily associated with objects than boys: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Finger counting opens the door to better maths skills | BPS A recent study finds that kids who first learned to count using their fingers outperform those that didn’t, adding to recent debate.

Kids who first learned to count using their fingers outperform those that didn’t, says new study: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Deaf people seem better at reading facial expressions | BPS New research finds that, at least in lab settings, those who are deaf are “better adapted to a visual world”.

New research finds that, at least in lab settings, those who are deaf are better at reading facial expressions: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Finger counting opens the door to better maths skills | BPS A recent study finds that kids who first learned to count using their fingers outperform those that didn’t, adding to recent debate.

Kids who first learned to count using their fingers outperform those that didn’t, says new study: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Ep 44: Doing something when nothing can be done: Working with Huntington’s disease | BPS In this new episode of our podcast, PsychCrunch, Dr Sarah Gunn and Dr Jon Sutton explore what psychologists can offer to those with Huntington's disease.

🎙️Join us for the new episode of our podcast, PsychCrunch!

This episode, Lecturer and Huntington's disease expert Dr Sarah Gunn sits down with Dr Jon Sutton to share her research journey, and what psychologists can offer to those with the condition: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Does fasting make it hard to think? | BPS A new review challenges the idea that fasting always compromises cognition.

Here's one for those of us thinking about diets involving fasting this January.

A new review challenges the idea that fasting always compromises cognition: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

To change minds at Christmas dinner, keep it civil | BPS People underestimate how much their attitudes soften during civil debates, and misjudge how much common ground they share with those of differing opinions, according to a new study

Before you square up for a debate over Christmas dinner, read this: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Episode 43: Psychology on the Menu | BPS A tasty new episode of our podcast, PsychCrunch, with Dr Andrea Oskis and Dr Jon Sutton.

This weekend, grab a bite with food writer and Senior Lecturer Dr Andrea Oskis and Dr Jon Sutton in the new episode of PsychCrunch. 🎙️

Join them at the table and explore some tasty research into the food we eat: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

The complexities of commitment in anxiously-attached love | BPS New study finds that for many with anxious attachment styles, frequent reminders of partner commitment are useful – unless they also tend towards being avoidant.

New study finds that for many with anxious attachment styles, frequent reminders of partner commitment are useful – unless they also tend towards being avoidant: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

New review charts the mechanics of autistic meltdowns | BPS A recent multidisciplinary paper synthesises what we know about the processes behind autistic meltdowns.

A recent multidisciplinary paper synthesises what we know about the processes behind autistic meltdowns: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Here’s why we stay quiet about our good deeds | BPS New investigations explore “the do-gooder dilemma”.

Ever been hesitant to tell others about your good deeds? Then you've fallen prey to “the do-gooder dilemma”: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Vicarious touch is more common than you’d think | BPS New study finds that a surprisingly large number of us may experience these phantom touches.

New study finds that a surprisingly large number of us may experience vicarious touch: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

New study aims to capture the reality of life with chronic illness | BPS The newly-developed Traumatic Chronic Illness Survival model leans away from traditional ‘transformation’ narratives, illustrating the complex experiences of chronic illness.

Not done learning?

Find out more about how psychologists conceptualise living with a chronic illness with this recent piece from Emily Reynolds: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

PsychCrunch is brought to you by Zanda, the all-in-one practice management software designed for psychologists.

With telehealth, mobile access, and automated tools, including online scheduling and reminders, Zanda helps you run your practice, your way. ZandaHealth.com

Ep 44: Doing something when nothing can be done: Working with Huntington’s disease | BPS In this new episode of our podcast, PsychCrunch, Dr Sarah Gunn and Dr Jon Sutton explore what psychologists can offer to those with Huntington's disease.

🎙️Join us for the new episode of our podcast, PsychCrunch!

This episode, Lecturer and Huntington's disease expert Dr Sarah Gunn sits down with Dr Jon Sutton to share her research journey, and what psychologists can offer to those with the condition: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Neurodivergent people have mixed feelings about their terminology | BPS A recent study illustrates the wide array of views neurodivergent people in the UK have on neurodiversity-related terms.

A recent study illustrates the wide array of views neurodivergent people in the UK have on neurodiversity-related terms: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

So you want to be cool… | BPS New research takes a look at what it means to be cool around the world.

New research takes a look at what it means to be cool around the world: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Embodying your younger self’s face boosts childhood memory recall | BPS A slick illusion makes episodic childhood memories easier to grasp, according to new research.

A slick illusion makes episodic childhood memories easier to grasp, according to new research: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Identity and personal meaning-making maintain extremism in high-security inmates | BPS New work examines the factors associated with radical beliefs and behaviours in forensic mental health populations.

New work examines the factors associated with radical beliefs and behaviours in forensic mental health populations: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

New study reveals why unknown languages sound like a blur | BPS Two papers home in on a brain area responsible for spotting the separations between words, previously thought to only handle simple auditory processing.

Two new papers home in on a brain area responsible for spotting the separations between words, previously thought to only handle simple auditory processing: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Identity and personal meaning-making maintain extremism in high-security inmates | BPS New work examines the factors associated with radical beliefs and behaviours in forensic mental health populations.

New work examines the factors associated with radical beliefs and behaviours in forensic mental health populations: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...