PsyPost – Psychology News

A new study reveals that for Israeli rave-goers using psychedelics, the party is just one phase. Extensive preparations and complex physical, emotional, and social after-effects show the experience extends well beyond the dance floor.

Think feeling excited and enthusiastic is the secret to a great life? A new analysis of nearly 30,000 people suggests a completely different kind of positive emotion actually drives true life satisfaction.

A large study of older adults in China suggests that depression can lead to a decline in memory and thinking skills by causing people to withdraw from their social circles, highlighting a potential pathway to protect aging brains.

Children whose mothers experienced high levels of stress during pregnancy and shortly after birth may face lasting challenges with social communication. A new analysis tracks how early adversity shapes distinct social skills from childhood through late adolescence.

The way a person jokes may offer a glimpse into their psychological makeup. A recent study suggests that people who favor darker humor, such as sarcasm and cynicism, tend to show higher levels of maladaptive personality traits.

A comprehensive analysis of nearly 1.6 million patients suggests that popular diabetes and obesity medications may increase the risk of a rare condition that causes sudden vision loss, though the absolute risk remains very low.

New research suggests adolescents who feel emotionally unnoticed are more likely to engage in addictive behaviors. A newly developed psychological scale reveals how this “sense of absence” acts as a bridge connecting family struggles to teen addiction.

ADHD diagnoses and medication prescriptions are surging globally, particularly among adults and women. This trend reflects improved clinical recognition of historically overlooked demographics, fundamentally shifting the understanding of the neurodevelopmental condition across the human lifespan.

A new study reveals a troubling pattern in young relationships: women are more likely to face intimate partner violence during the exact weeks their partners are cheating on them, often leading to a breakup.

A systematic review of animal research suggests that caffeine can reduce anxiety and depressive-like behaviors by acting as a brake on the brain's immune system and lowering neuroinflammation.

Childhood adversity might alter how the brain responds to social hormones. A study in Translational Psychiatry suggests oxytocin temporarily increases altruism in adults with difficult childhoods, but decreases generosity in those with fewer adverse early experiences.

Women experiencing physical symptoms of stress, like headaches or muscle pain, report more negative dreams. A new psychological survey explores how daytime physical discomfort and general bodily awareness relate to the emotional intensity of our nighttime narratives.

New research published in Brain Imaging and Behavior suggests that estradiol influences how brain areas communicate during memory tasks in middle-aged women. The findings provide evidence that higher hormone levels tend to allow for more efficient brain connectivity.

The term “porn addiction” is ubiquitous, but clinical realities are far more complex. Current research suggests underlying mental health conditions, emotional dysregulation, and even religious guilt fundamentally shape how individuals perceive their psychological reliance on pornography.

Children growing up without a father in the home during their first year may experience earlier signs of puberty. A recent study published in the Biology of Sex Differences suggests early family environments relate to long-term biological development.

A recent brain imaging study found that people with even slightly different political views process information using different neural patterns. Listening to political statements about immigration prompted synchronized brain activity among individuals who shared similar attitudes.

A new survey reveals that Gen Z is significantly more likely than older generations to support using shoutdowns, blockades, and violence to silence public speakers, regardless of whether the young adults attend college.

College instructors who view their profession as a profound personal calling report higher levels of engagement in their daily work, a relationship heavily influenced by their loyalty to their school and overall job satisfaction.

A recent study indicates how early-life trauma leaves a lasting mark on the brain. By altering how DNA is packaged in dopamine neurons, early adversity primes the brain for future anxiety. Blocking this process in mice prevented stress hypersensitivity.

A recent brain imaging study reveals that people who rapidly remove the reward chemical dopamine after a sugar spike may have a harder time controlling their cravings for sweet foods.