BPS Research Digest

Do you remember what it was like to start school? Intimidating new places, a new schedule, lots of potential friends and foes... 🎙️In the new episode of PsychCrunch, Professor Claire Hughes provides expert insights into this dynamic period: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Does happiness really come from within? Recent research finds that there’s no one-size-fits-all formula: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Ever wondered how that last cup of coffee might affect your brain while you sleep? A new study's got answers for you: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Have workplace training modules been missing a vital piece of the puzzle when it comes to preventing abuse from managers? Recent research suggests that it's not all about stress. Sometimes, it's about control: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Perceiving issues as severe or widespread can lead people to disengage from finding solutions, a recent study finds: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Crocodile tears are hard to spill, but most of us can still spot them. New research, however, finds that our ability to spot them seems to be affected by factors beyond just facial expressions: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Do we see religious belief as the default? A new study investigates: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Easy-to-understand shortform science videos can lead people to overestimate their scientific abilities, according to a new study: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Feeling free to say no might produce a more genuine yes, according to new research. The study in question suggests that offering specific wording to decline a request can increase how free we feel to say no, without necessarily changing our answer: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Students become less conscientious, open, and agreeable as term time wears on, a new study suggests: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

A new paper from researchers at @YorkUniversity identifies asymmetrical application of the idea of karma, which may reinforce some believers' own sense of virtue: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

When was your last 'aha' moment? Knowing that sudden flashes of insight can be joyous occasions might develop early, but understanding why may take longer, according to new research. bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Do sorries really have the harder words? Apologies with longer words, that are more effortful to speak, are perceived as more sincere, according to new research: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Researchers investigating the thalamus and its role in consciousness believe the area acts as a 'gate' to stimuli that reach, or don't reach, conscious perception: bps.org.uk/research-diges…

Acquired brain injuries can change so much, including relationship dynamics. A small new study investigates the effects of a brief writing intervention which offers space to reflect on those new dynamics, and reconnect: bps.org.uk/research-diges…