Why humans find faulty robots more likeable
From the Frontiers press release: It has been argued that the ability of humans to recognize social signals is crucial to mastering social intelligence — but can robots learn to read human social cues and…
Study suggests babies can pick up on and respond to social dominance
From the University of Washington press release: The charismatic colleague, the natural leader, the life of the party — all are personal qualities that adults recognize instinctively. These socially dominant types, according to repeated studies, also…
Arts engagement can help counter divisions in society
From the University of Kent press release: Engagement with the arts can help societies counter economic, cultural and political divisions, new research co-ordinated by psychologists at the University of Kent shows. The study, which included…
Why Facebook is so hard to resist
From the Michigan State University press release: Why is social media such a hard habit to break? Because it makes us feel good, said Michigan State University’s Allison Eden, assistant professor in the Department of Communication.…
Study links higher cognitive abilities to greater risk of stereotyping
From the New York University press release: People with higher cognitive abilities are more likely to learn and apply social stereotypes, finds a new study. The results, stemming from a series of experiments, show that those…
Study suggests gamblers more likely to have suffered childhood traumas
From the University of Lincoln press release: Men with problem and pathological gambling addictions are more likely to have suffered childhood traumas including physical abuse or witnessing violence in the home, according to new research. Psychologists…
Study suggests link between person’s attachment style and how they manage friendship networks
From the University of Kansas press release: A new investigation appearing this week in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin suggests a strong association between a person’s attachment style — how avoidant or anxious people are in their…
Social interaction affects cancer patients’ response to treatment
From the NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute press release: How well cancer patients fared after chemotherapy was affected by their social interaction with other patients during treatment, according to a new study by researchers at the…
Study looks at activities shown to improve health and well-being
From the Newcastle University press release: Gyms, walking groups, gardening, cooking clubs and volunteering have all been shown to work in improving the health and well-being reported by a group of people with long-term conditions. Key…
One social hour a week in dementia care improves lives and saves money
From the University of Exeter press release: Person-centred activities combined with just one hour a week of social interaction can improve quality of life and reduce agitation for people with dementia living in care homes,…