Research Topics is a collection of previously published articles, features, and news stories. They are meant to serve as an information clearinghouse and represent some of APS’s most requested and publicly relevant subjects. Note: this content may reflect the accepted style and terminology of the date the articles were first published.
The psychology and science behind how individuals and groups respond to epidemics.
How does misinformation spread and how do we combat it? Psychological science sheds light on the mechanisms underlying misinformation and ‘fake news.’
Psychological scientists are studying how we’re all weathering a warming planet.
How do people respond to increasing cultural diversity in their communities, cities, and countries? Researchers investigate.
For psychological scientists, exploring the less pleasant aspects of individual and social nature, like violence and aggression, is an occasional necessity.
Research is showing that aging equals anything but cognitive decline and unhappiness.
How do pets influence our well-being? Why does the face of a puppy or the purr of a cat soothe us? Psychological research provides some insights.
Whether you're driving, studying, or listening to a business presentation, keeping focused can be a challenge when boredom and distractions compete for your focus. Research findings have identified the factors that keep our minds on task -- or off track.
Read about the wealth of psychological studies on autism spectrum disorder and its diagnosis.
Psychological science on the effects of prejudice, and how to counter these beliefs.
Learn what researchers have discovered about the factors that lead to bullying and the long-term consequences it can have.
The World Health Organization has added "burnout" to its International Classification of Diseases. Learn what psychological scientists have discovered about the possible causes and symptoms of burnout.
A half century ago, psychological scientists Bibb Latané and John Darley conducted foundational research showing that people avoid helping someone in an emergency when other witnesses are present. In the years since, research has greatly increased our understanding about how and when we accept — or skirt — responsibility.
Psychological research reveals the long-lasting cognitive, social, and neurobiological consequences of stress and trauma experienced in childhood.
Psychological scientists have designed cognitive tests that can help identify everything from memory deficits to cultural heritage.
A collection of studies shows that compassion gets stronger with training and this training can even change brain function.
It's a big-time showdown for France and Croatia in the upcoming FIFA World Cup final. Science reveals how players and fans alike handle the pressure of climactic competition.
From international wars to political arguments at the dinner table, conflict is an integral part of the human experience. Psychological scientists have uncovered a wealth of knowledge about the ways cooperation and acceptance can overpower those clashes.
What drives people to believe in vast conspiracies and dismiss facts as hoaxes? Psychological research identifies some motivations.
How do people respond to increasing cultural diversity in their communities, cities, and countries? Researchers investigate.
Being curious about the world around us can have benefits at school, work, and other contexts, studies show.
Psychological scientists are exploring how we use digital media and the consequences, both positive and negative, it can have in everyday life.
Disasters like Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut draw massive media coverage, trauma interventions, and financial donations to victims. But psychological research shows the efforts don't always yield the intended benefits.
How do motorists develop the higher-order cognitive processes required to navigate safely? Research explores this and more.
Read what psychological researchers have discovered about the effects of eating on mood, behavior, and cognition.
Psychological scientists are studying how we're all weathering a warming planet.
The psychology and science behind how individuals and groups respond to epidemics.
Psychological scientists identify factors that prompt people to lie, cheat, bribe, and steal and strategies for addressing such unethical behavior.
What motivates us to exercise? And what effects does exercise have on mental function? Psychological scientists are exploring the ins and outs of physical activity.
Understanding the science behind eyewitness memory can have important implications for criminal justice procedures.
APS offers some scientific insights into family dynamics, which might look a little different this holiday season.
Why are we scared of some things and not others? Psychological scientists are exploring the many facets of fear and the mechanisms that drive it.
Friendships are unique relationships that offer researchers a window into many aspects of life, including personality, longevity, health, and well-being.
Researchers explore the factors that perpetuate gender inequality and the effects that such bias can have on women in the workplace and beyond.
Learn about the mechanisms underlying our generous motivations and behaviors.
Effort, stamina, and purpose drive our accomplishments — science shows us what to do to keep motivation going.
In some of the most famous cases of money laundering, corporate fraud, and tax evasion lies a relentless appetite for big profits and personal wealth. How does greed affect our sense of morality?
Psychological scientists are leading the way in addressing the mental health issues resulting from traumatic events.
Psychological science sheds light on happiness, from a personal to an economic level.
Learn how the human brain influences what our ears register - and what they don't.
As a new year begins, psychological science offers a variety of reasons to be hopeful about progress in science and the well-being of individuals and societies worldwide. Read about the most promising discoveries and advances of the past few years.
Learn about the research on what makes you laugh, why something you find funny is offensive to someone else, and more.
We’re averse to hypocrites because their disavowal of bad behavior sends a false signal about their true nature.
Unconscious bias can lurk below the level of conscious awareness, but researchers are working to uncover more effective methods of reducing these prejudices.
Psychological science has played a leading role in busting misconceptions about sexual orientation and gender identity, and in changing people's attitudes toward gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals
Psychology researchers are identifying how we build strong reading skills in early childhood and the factors that contribute to difficulty with reading comprehension.
Researchers explore the causes, impacts, and possible interventions for loneliness and social isolation.
Frank Sinatra crooned that they go together like a horse and carriage, but in truth love and marital health can falter over time. Scientists have identified a number of factors that sustain love through better or worse.
Learn about the vast stores of memory research that psychological scientists have amassed in recent years.
Psychological scientists have amassed a vast amount of empirical knowledge on the causes of and best treatments for mental disorders.
Researchers explore how practices associated with mindfulness and meditation can affect decision-making and other cognitive processes.
Psychological scientists are identifying cognitive, developmental, and cultural aspects of music perception and the essential role that music plays in our everyday lives.
How does misinformation spread and how do we combat it? Psychological science sheds light on the mechanisms underlying misinformation and 'fake news.'
Scientists are increasingly busting some myths and making new discoveries about a dark personality trait.
Deal making at the international, business, and interpersonal levels involves a variety of emotional, social, and language factors that lead to a final agreement -- or a stalemate.
Psychological scientists are devoting an increasing amount of their research time examining the role of the brain in human behavior, emotion, and cognitive health.
Recent news events have sparked a surge of interest in the Dunning-Kruger effect -- a distorted view of one's knowledge and ability. Learn how this cognitive bias can spark overconfidence among world leaders and corporate giants.
Amid the epidemic of opioid addiction, psychological science has demonstrated that pain relief doesn't have to be pharmaceutical.
Personality tests are the center of countless psychological studies exploring targeted marketing, workplace dynamics, and different brain structures.
Public trust in the police has remained flat for decades, a problem that has become especially salient due to recent events.
A scientific analysis upends the notion that people on the political right are more biased about their ideological views than are people on the left.
Why do we dawdle and delay, even on the most important tasks? Researchers explore the causes and consequences of procrastination.
Plenty of beliefs about human psychology are based on myth masquerading as facts. Psychological scientists have not only exposed the weak evidence for these notions, but can recommend strategies to help us to distinguish true science from bunk.
Suspicion of government leaders, corporations, and opposing political parties has run amok across the globe. Psychological research reveals what fuels that distrust, and how it can be restored in our communities.
Psychological researchers are examining the complexities of racism and xenophobia at both the interpersonal and societal levels.
Psychological research explores how we evaluate, perceive, and choose whether to take risks.
Why does self-control fail, and how can we boost it? Researchers explore the mechanisms underlying this important ability and how it develops over time.
Recent accidents involving autonomous vehicles have fueled psychological research into the human factors and technological shortcomings that may get overlooked in the development of smart driving systems.
The #metoo movement has brought sexual harassment to the center of public consciousness, raising questions about the causes of predatory actions. Psychological research shows how feeling powerful relates to sexually coercive behavior.
Insufficient sleep has been shown to have adverse effects at work, in driving, and even in court.
From the scent of flowers to the stench of hazardous chemicals, our sense of smell guides us through our environment and significantly influences our emotions, as scientists have discovered.
How does athletic engagement and competition affect our thoughts and behaviors? Learn what psychological science has uncovered.
New discoveries about the ill effects of psychological stress abound, but scientists are also learning about buffers to stress.
Psychological scientists delve into study strategies, math anxiety, reading comprehension, and more.
Research from APS on addiction and substance abuse.
Scientists show how get-aways and enjoyable activities affect our work lives and relationships.
Psychological research is fostering understanding of the important factors that contribute to effective teaching, from individual instruction to school climate.
The psychological mechanisms that lead us to have faith in certain people and be suspicious of others are vast. Learn what psychological researchers have discovered about interpersonal trust.
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Read about the steps that psychological scientists are taking to identify and help people at risk of taking their own lives.
Psychological science suggests that behavioral 'nudges' which aim to alter individuals' actions rather than their attitudes are essential to promoting vaccination against COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The effects of playing video games on well-being seem to depend largely on why and how an individual chooses to partake.
The way the brain and the human eye process visual stimuli, including illusions, is a thriving area of psychological science.
Researchers unravel the mystery of voting behavior, including why people vote in seemingly unpredictable or illogical ways.
How does weather, both ordinary and extreme, affect decision-making, behavior, and emotions?
Research in psychological science reveals the causes and consequences of bullying behavior in the office.
When done well, efforts to improve intergroup harmony at work can uplift individuals and lead entire organizations to perform at a higher level.
