Contact with nature may do more than improve individual well-being. Research suggests that access to green space is associated with stronger community cohesion, greater mutual support, and lower crime rates.
Does saying “I” and “me” a lot reveal a narcissist? A large study found little evidence for the popular assumption, suggesting that pronoun use alone tells us very little about narcissistic tendencies.
Job seekers who treat the search as a learning process—not just a means to an end—land better outcomes, new research shows. A “learning goal orientation” helps job seekers turn stress and setbacks into fuel rather than discouragement.
Memory is reconstructive, not a perfect record of experience. In a laboratory study, suggestive interviewing led some participants to develop detailed false memories of crimes they had never committed, highlighting the importance of careful interviewing techniques.
Genes can influence vulnerability to problem drinking, but they don’t act in isolation. One study found that childhood adversity may diminish a normally protective genetic effect, illustrating the complex interplay between biology and experience.
We often avoid talking to strangers, assuming solitude will be more pleasant. Research with commuters suggests the opposite: connecting with a stranger can make an everyday journey significantly more enjoyable.
Practice alone may not explain why some people excel. Research with product-development engineers suggests that greater integration across the brain may be associated with creativity, faster decision-making, and higher performance.
The riskiest time for maternal depression isn’t the newborn stage—it’s four years later. A large Australian study found depressive symptoms were more common at the four-year mark than at any point in baby’s first year, especially among first-time mothers.
What might genetics reveal about obsessive-compulsive disorder? Researchers identified a possible association between OCD and a particular genetic region, adding another clue to efforts to understand the disorder’s underlying biology.
Joining a group won’t cure depression by itself—but truly identifying with one might. Australian researchers found that patients who came to see a support group as “us” were far less likely to remain depressed a month later.
Workplace violence may not always occur without warning. Researchers examine how attentive supervision, employee support, and early responses to troubling behavior may help organizations recognize risks and prevent escalation.
Chronic family stress may affect more than a child’s emotional well-being. Research with five-year-olds suggests that high family stress may also be associated with changes in immune-system functioning.
