Social psychology – The Conversation

Rejection can feel physically painful. It also provides a lesson for your brain on whom to connect with and how.

Mafia groups don’t just cause harm through violence, they can erode the principles that make a democracy function.

From HIV treatments to school desegregation, research into topics now considered DEIA have benefited Americans throughout history.

Most explanations say discrimination is driven by differences between groups – but random individual differences may also play a role.

Even the most advanced AI tools are useless if employees don’t feel confident using them. Building trust and boosting workers’ belief in their abilities is the real key to successful adoption.

The more ambivalent a person is about a political issue, the more likely they are to support violence and other extreme actions relating to that issue.

An expert on mental health and social media explains why Taylor Swift’s latest album resonates with her.

When a family member or friend cuts off all communication, it can feel like grief. Here’s how to cope with this surprisingly common type of ghosting.

A number of theories try to explain how cultural differences come to be. A new study quantifies how such factors as resource abundance, population density and infectious disease risk can contribute.

Horror movies allow us to confront our deepest fears through the safety of make-believe.

People from many different cultures across the globe and across millennia largely agree about which body parts are most valuable – and how much compensation they warrant when injured.

Two social psychologists explain the ways unconscious biases influence how people think and can fuel discrimination against transgender people and other minority groups.

Being presented with facts doesn’t do much good if you don’t feel like your core values are respected. That’s especially true when it comes to health care decisions.

A French science historian dug deep into the true story of the Stanford prison experiment – revealing ‘guards’ were actually coached to be brutal. His findings are now available in English.

Maybe think of small talk as a technology: a human invention for accomplishing social goals.

Indecision reflects self-interest more than sensitivity – and leaves friends, family and acquaintances feeling disrespected.