For human groups to grow from small, intimate communities to the huge interconnected societies we know now, people needed to be willing to cooperate with strangers. Religion might have played a big role.
Innocent people do confess to terrible crimes they had nothing to do with. Psychologists are investigating factors that contribute to false confession – including how well-rested a suspect feels.
Innocent people do confess under interrogation to crimes they did not commit, even providing details about the crime. What leads them to falsely confess to very serious crimes?
No one is only their sex or only their race or only their sexual orientation. Social psychologists are starting to investigate how people of multiple minority groups are perceived.
Despite the popular perception, most psychopaths aren’t coldblooded or psychotic killers. Many live successfully among us, using their personality traits to get what they want.
You’re at the park with the kids. Everyone’s having fun, and then a strange dog appears, baring its teeth. Your protective response is the evolutionary function of anger.
Seeing the Earth from space is likely to have a profound psychological impact on Tim Peake. But can psychologists harness this so called ‘overview effect’ here on terra firma using virtual reality?
Recent psychological research highlights several reasons why New Year’s resolutions might actually work - as well as simple ways to set yourself up for success.