What Lies Beneath: The Surprising Power of Game Theory To Explain Odd and Irrational Human Behavior
In a new book, an MIT scholar examines how game-theory logic underpins many of our decisions that seem odd and irrational. Why do people wear…
Behavioral Science News
Happiness Is a Salad: Strong Correlations Between What We Eat and How We Feel
Many of us — in the West, at least — seem to suffer from what psychologists call the “Unhealthy = Tasty Intuition”: we subconsciously assume…
Link Between Social Life and Brain Structure Discovered in Rhesus Macaques
Researchers from Penn, Inserm, and elsewhere observed that the number of grooming partners an individual animal had predicted the size of brain areas associated with…
When Is “Speciesism” Learned? Children Think Farm Animals Deserve Same Treatment as Pets
Children differ dramatically from adults in their moral views on animals, new research shows. University of Exeter researchers asked children aged 9-11 about the moral…
MIT Neuroscientists Discover Brain Cells That Encode the Outcomes of Actions
These neurons, located in the brain’s striatum, appear to help with decision-making that requires evaluating risks and benefits. When we make complex decisions, we have…
DNA Testing Exposes Tactics of International Criminal Networks Trafficking Elephant Ivory Out of Africa
A team led by scientists at the University of Washington and special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has used genetic testing of…
Monkeys Play To Avoid Conflict and Reduce Group Tension
Play amongst adult howler monkeys increases during competitive foraging. New research has discovered that adult howler monkeys use play to avoid conflict and reduce group…
COVID Pandemic Mood: Much Worse Than a Bad Monday
Study uses social media to measure how much sentiment has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis, worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has been depressing, demoralizing, and…
The Most Boring Person in the World Discovered by Researchers
The most boring person in the world has been revealed by University of Essex research — and it is a religious data entry worker, who…
Scientists Warn of Imminent “Anthropulse” As COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Ease
A leading ecologist from the University of St Andrews calls for coordinated action to investigate the environmental impacts of humanity’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic….
New Research Shows That School Uniforms Don’t Improve Child Behavior
Students feel less sense of belonging when uniforms are required. Despite the belief of many parents and teachers, school uniforms don’t seem to have any…
Junk Food and the Brain: How Modern Diets Lacking in Micronutrients May Contribute to Irritability and Anger
Emotional, non-rational, even explosive remarks in public discourse have escalated in recent years. Politicians endure insults during legislative discussions; scientists receive emails and tweets containing…
Watch a Chimpanzee Mother Apply an Insect to Her Son’s Wound
For the first time, researchers observed chimpanzees in Gabon, West Africa applying insects to their wounds and the wounds of others. In a study published…
Loneliness and Social Anxiety Are Driven by Different Brain States
Behavioral interventions targeting social anxiety must be adapted to treat loneliness. Despite similar symptoms, loneliness and social anxiety are driven by different brain states, according…
Chimpanzees Observed Applying Insects to Wounds – A Potential Case of Medication?
Researchers from Osnabrück University now examine a possible pharmaceutical function. A research team from Osnabrück University and the Ozouga Chimpanzee Project has, for the first…
Sextortion: Landmark Research Shows Increase in Online Sex Blackmailing During Pandemic
Men twice as likely to fall victim, with young people, Black, and Native American women, and LGBTQ individuals also at high risk. During the COVID-19…
People May Not Always Want Help Sticking to Their New Year’s Resolutions
To Keep or Not To Keep Those New Year’s Resolutions? New research suggests that people may not always want help with sticking to their New…
“Hey, Alexa! Are You Trustworthy?” – Human-Like Social Behaviors Improve Trust in Digital Assistants
The more social behaviors a voice-user interface exhibits, the more likely people are to trust it, engage with it, and consider it to be competent….
