A recent study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin has shed light on an intriguing trend among adolescents and young adults. It finds that those aged 14 to 20 today are more satisfied with being single than their counterparts were a decade ago. Adolescents born between 2001 and 2003 not only show a higher tendency to be single but also exhibit greater contentment with their single status compared to those born ten years earlier.
The study was motivated by noticeable societal trends: declining marriage rates, rising divorce rates, and an increasing number of single-person households. These shifts raise the question of whether modern singles experience higher satisfaction with their single status than previous generations. By understanding these trends, researchers hope to provide insights into how societal changes influence individual well-being and relationship dynamics.
“Compared to our grandparents’ generation, people today marry less frequently and experience higher divorce rates,” said study author Tita Gonzalez Avilés from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. “At the same time, more diverse forms of relationships, such as unmarried relationships, cohabitation, and extended singlehood, have become more accepted. While singlehood seems more socially acceptable, it is unclear if singles indeed feel more satisfied.”
The researchers used data from a large longitudinal study, the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (pairfam), which included participants from four birth cohorts: 1971-1973, 1981-1983, 1991-1993, and 2001-2003. Data were collected between 2008-2011 and 2018-2021. The study focused on participants aged 14-40 who were single throughout the study period.
Participants provided information on their relationship status and satisfaction with their singlehood and overall life. Satisfaction with singlehood was measured using a single question: “How satisfied are you with your situation as a single?” on a scale from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied). Life satisfaction was measured similarly, asking participants to rate their overall life satisfaction.
The researchers also considered individual factors such as age, gender, and personality traits, specifically extraversion and neuroticism, to understand their impact on singles’ satisfaction. Extraversion refers to being outgoing and socially active, while neuroticism involves tendencies towards anxiety and worry.
The researchers found that the later-born cohort (2001-2003) had a higher proportion of singles (47%) compared to the earlier-born cohort (1991-1993) with 42% singles. Adolescents in the later-born cohort were more satisfied with their singlehood than those in the earlier-born cohort, indicating a positive shift in singlehood satisfaction over time.
Adolescents born in 2001-2003 reported a 3% higher chance of being single compared to those born a decade earlier. This increase in singlehood was associated with greater satisfaction with being single. Interestingly, this trend was specific to singlehood satisfaction, as there was no significant change in overall life satisfaction among the cohorts.
“Singlehood is changing over time — especially so for adolescents,” Gonzalez Avilés told PsyPost. “Adolescents nowadays are not only more often single than ten years ago but also more satisfied with being single.”
The researchers did not observe significant historical changes in singlehood satisfaction among emerging adults (24-30 years) and established adults (34-40 years). This stability suggests that the factors influencing singlehood satisfaction in these age groups are less affected by sociohistorical changes compared to adolescents.
“It was surprising that we did not find any changes for adults,” Gonzalez Avilés said. “Adolescents might encounter a broader spectrum of relationship forms than adults due to interactions with diverse peers at school and extensive engagement with social media, making singlehood more normative and acceptable for them. Changes in the single life of adults may be slower and become apparent only over longer periods.”
While the study found notable differences in singlehood satisfaction between different cohorts, the effect sizes of these historical changes were small. This means that the differences in satisfaction levels between adolescents born in 2001-2003 and those born ten years earlier, while statistically significant, were not large. Instead, individual factors such as age and personality traits, particularly neuroticism, were stronger predictors of singles’ satisfaction.
Satisfaction with singlehood decreased with age. Adolescents were the most satisfied with being single, while emerging adults and established adults reported lower satisfaction levels.
Higher levels of neuroticism were associated with lower satisfaction with both singlehood and overall life. Extraversion was positively related to life satisfaction but did not significantly impact singlehood satisfaction.
While the study provides valuable insights, it has some limitations. The study focused on a specific age range (14-40 years) and a single cultural context (Germany). Singlehood experiences may vary significantly in different cultural settings, especially in countries with more traditional views on marriage and family.
Future research could explore the long-term impacts of sociohistorical changes on singlehood satisfaction across different cultural contexts. Additionally, examining other individual factors, such as voluntary versus involuntary singlehood and attitudes towards marriage and family, can help understand the complexities of singlehood satisfaction.
“I am interested in sociocultural factors influencing singlehood,” Gonzalez Avilés explained. “Thus, I aim to investigate how historical time, regional contexts, and societal attitudes shape the well-being of singles.”
The study, “Today’s Adolescents Are More Satisfied With Being Single: Findings From a German Cohort-Sequential Study Among 14- to 40-Year-Olds,” was authored by Tita Gonzalez Avilés, Janina Larissa Bühler, Naemi D. Brandt, and Franz J. Neyer.
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A new study published in the European Journal of Personality reveals that while those who believe their relationship is “destined to be” are more satisfied initially, those who believe relationships grow through effort tend to maintain higher satisfaction over the years. This study, spanning two years and including various couples, provides insights into how these beliefs influence relationship satisfaction over time.
The researchers aimed to understand how different beliefs about relationships—whether they are destined to be or can grow through effort—affect relationship satisfaction over time. Previous studies have shown that relationship satisfaction often declines as time passes, but the reasons behind this trend remain unclear. By exploring these relationship beliefs, the researchers hoped to identify factors that could help couples maintain higher levels of satisfaction in their relationships.
“I have been involved in research on well-being and personality for quite some time. Especially fascinating to me was how traits and well-being change over time – either naturally, through life events, or through deliberate practice,” said study author Fabian Gander, a research associate at the University of Basel.
“In the case of the present study, our interest was sparked by the robust research finding that on average, relationship satisfaction declines over time, meaning that for most couples, it gets worse – however, there are always exceptions who manage to maintain or even increase their relationship satisfaction. We were interested in identifying psychological factors that might contribute to a positive development of relationship satisfaction – or that, at least, could ameliorate the decline over time.”
The study involved 904 couples from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other countries. Participants ranged from 18 to 81 years old and had been in relationships for varying lengths of time, from just a few months to over 50 years. The study was conducted over two years, with participants completing surveys at four different points.
To measure relationship beliefs, the researchers used a questionnaire that assessed two dimensions: destiny beliefs and growth beliefs. Destiny beliefs reflect the idea that relationships are either meant to be or not, while growth beliefs reflect the idea that relationships can be improved and maintained through effort. Participants rated their agreement with statements like “A successful relationship is mostly a matter of finding a compatible partner” for destiny beliefs and “A successful relationship is mostly a matter of learning to resolve conflicts with a partner” for growth beliefs.
Relationship satisfaction was measured using the Relationship Assessment Scale, which includes questions about how satisfied participants are with their relationship overall. The researchers also collected data on personality traits, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and attachment styles to control for other factors that might influence relationship satisfaction.
The study found that individuals with strong destiny beliefs were more satisfied with their relationships at the beginning of the study. However, their satisfaction declined more steeply over the two-year period compared to those with strong growth beliefs. Specifically, participants with strong growth beliefs experienced a slower decline in satisfaction, suggesting that the belief that relationships can improve through effort helps maintain higher levels of satisfaction over time.
Interestingly, the study also found that higher relationship satisfaction predicted an increase in growth beliefs over time. This suggests that satisfaction and beliefs about relationships are intertwined, with satisfied individuals becoming more likely to believe that their relationships can grow and improve.
“One surprising finding was that those with higher initial relationship satisfaction also tended to develop stronger growth beliefs over time, indicating a reciprocal relationship between satisfaction and beliefs,” Gander told PsyPost.
The study showed that couples where both partners had high growth beliefs reported the highest levels of satisfaction. Conversely, couples where both partners had high destiny beliefs experienced the steepest decline in satisfaction over time. These findings highlight the importance of shared beliefs in maintaining relationship satisfaction.
“The most important take away messages are as follows: In romantic relationships, relationship satisfaction generally tends to decrease over time,” Gander explained. “However, how we think about love can shape our satisfaction. People who believe that ‘love is meant to be’ are more satisfied with their relationship initially but this belief does not protect them from decreasing satisfaction over time. On the other hand, those who believe that ‘love grows with effort’ experience a slower decline in relationship satisfaction and have more positive future expectations for their relationship.”
While the study provides valuable insights, it has several limitations. First, the sample was limited to German-speaking couples from a specific cultural context, which may not be representative of couples in other cultures. Additionally, the study only covered a period of two years, which is relatively short in the context of long-term relationships. More extended studies would be needed to understand the long-term impact of relationship beliefs fully.
“Major caveats include the need for further research to establish causal relationships and the potential for other unmeasured variables to influence the observed effects,” Gander noted. “Thus, while we know that those who do believe that ‘love grows with effort” are less inclined to experience a decrease in their relationship satisfaction, we do not know whether this belief is indeed the driving force.
“We would love to see (or conduct) intervention studies in which we try to actively alter the beliefs of couples to see if growth beliefs in couples can causally improve relationship satisfaction, and potentially applying these findings in couples therapy.”
In addition, “encouraging further examination of different beliefs about the world and their longitudinal effects could be beneficial for understanding how we approach challenges and personal development,” Gander added.
The study, “The role of relationship beliefs in predicting levels and changes of relationship satisfaction,” was authored by Fabian Gander, Maximiliane Uhlich, Alex Christoph Traut, Marcelle Ariane Saameli, Janina Larissa Bühler, Rebekka Weidmann, and Alexander Grob.
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A recent large-scale study involving over 5 million students from 58 countries examined whether the content of math test questions could unintentionally disadvantage students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The study found that math problems related to money, food, and social interactions, which were assumed to be more relatable for low socioeconomic status students, actually hindered their performance compared to students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. The research was published in npj Science of Learning.
Socioeconomic status is an individual’s or family’s social and economic position within society. It is assessed by combining income, education level, and occupation of an individual or their family members. This status influences many aspects of life, including access to resources and opportunities, which significantly impact educational outcomes.
Children from families with higher socioeconomic status tend to perform better at school and demonstrate superior academic performance overall. Scientists explain this by the fact that children from these families have access to better tutoring, more enriching educational activities, more supportive environments, stable housing, and better healthcare. All of these factors contribute to cognitive development and academic success.
On the other hand, children from families with low socioeconomic status often have limited access to education, experience more stress due to everyday challenges, and have fewer opportunities for academic enrichment.
Study author Marjolein Muskens and her colleagues note that in countries worldwide, math tests play a critical role in determining certification and admission to secondary and tertiary education. Such tests are often pivotal in shaping a student’s academic and professional future. Math tests are among the tests where children from families with high socio-economic status tend to perform better than children from families with low-socioeconomic status.
The researchers wanted to find out whether this difference might be reduced if tasks used in the math test contained contents that were closer to everyday challenges faced by children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. They describe how families with low socioeconomic status depend more on other people for their basic needs. Due to this, people with low socioeconomic status tend to be more attuned to other people. They may also prioritize external social factors (e.g., wishes of their surroundings) over internal, individual factors (e.g., their own preferences). Because of these social dynamics, these children might perform better on math tasks that refer to their everyday challenges. The study aimed to test whether this assumption held true.
The researchers analyzed data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Studies (TIMSS) from 2007 and 2011. Data came from 58 countries and included over 5 million children in grades 4 and 8.
The study authors identified math tasks within this dataset that they considered particularly relevant for children from families with low socioeconomic status. These were tasks that involved money, food, or social interactions. They called them “low-socioeconomic status ecologically relevant content.” The researchers categorized all other available math tasks as neutral regarding socioeconomic status. They then statistically compared the performance of children from families with different socioeconomic statuses on these targeted tasks.
Contrary to the study authors’ expectations, children from the lowest socioeconomic status families performed 16% worse in grade 8 and 18% worse in grade 4 on these items compared to children from the highest socioeconomic status families. The performance gap was most pronounced on tasks about food (where low socioeconomic status children scored 22% lower) and least pronounced on tasks about social interactions (where low socioeconomic status children scored 12% lower).
“Our study provides an important contribution to investigating sources of social inequality in education by showing that content in math items related to money, food, and social interaction may contribute to unintended biases in math tests for students from low-SES [low socioeconomic status] backgrounds,” the study authors concluded.
“This raises the question of whether items with this content should be avoided in math tests. Simply excluding items with this type of content from tests is neither desirable nor feasible. In addition, since equipping students with critical life skills is an important goal of elementary education worldwide, conceptual and procedural understanding of money is a crucial part of what students need to learn. Consequently, when the goal of a math test is to assess the ability to engage in monetary transactions, omitting items with money is not feasible as well. Therefore, it is important to design interventions that could reduce or remove the bias of this content.”
The study sheds light on the links between socioeconomic status and performance on specific types of math tasks. However, the authors note that students with the lowest socioeconomic status often had missing data about their parents’ education. To address this, the researchers used the reported number of books at home as an indicator of socioeconomic status, which might have somewhat affected the socioeconomic status classifications.
The paper, “Math items about real-world content lower test-scores of students from families with low socioeconomic status,” was authored by Marjolein Muskens, Willem E. Frankenhuis, and Lex Borghans.
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It’s disappointing but not surprising to see so many people (on lemmy) willing to violently control children and their access to tech, information, etc.
Recent research published in the Journal of Adolescent Health has found that sexting does not contribute to an increase in depression symptoms or conduct problems among adolescents over time. This finding suggests that efforts to reduce sexting among young people may not prevent mental health issues as previously thought.
Adolescence is a pivotal developmental period marked by significant physical, emotional, and social changes. With the advent of digital media, communication methods have evolved, making digital platforms a significant arena for sexual socialization among teenagers. Sexting, which involves sending and receiving sexually explicit messages or images, has become more common as smartphone use has increased.
There have been growing concerns that sexting might be linked to mental health problems among adolescents. However, previous research has primarily relied on cross-sectional studies, which only capture a snapshot in time and cannot account for pre-existing differences between those who sext and those who do not.
“A range of studies have shown that sexting is negatively associated to mental health. However, the findings are mostly based on cross-sectional data, which cannot be used to rule out whether sexting causes mental health problems or if specific individuals are more prone to both participate in sexting and have poorer mental health,” said study author Lars Roar Frøyland, a senior researcher at Norwegian Social Research (NOVA) at the Oslo Metropolitan University.
“In our study, we were able to use a strong methodological design following the same individuals over time, thus enabling analyses which better can disentangle cause and effect. Our main motivation to study the topic was to utilize this methodological strength to provide more sound knowledge on the long-term association between sexting and mental health.”
The study utilized data from the MyLife study, a longitudinal research project examining health and development among Norwegian adolescents. The sample consisted of 3,000 adolescents, aged 15 to 19, who participated in at least one of three assessment periods from 2019 to 2021. The researchers measured sexting, depression symptoms, and conduct problems at each time point using standardized questionnaires.
Sexting was assessed through questions about sending or sharing sexual photographs or videos, with responses ranging from “never” to “every day or almost every day.” Depression symptoms were measured using a modified version of the Patient Health Questionnaire for adolescents, which includes items on low mood, sleep problems, and lack of energy. Conduct problems were assessed with questions about behaviors like stealing, bullying, and destroying property.
The study found that the proportion of adolescents engaging in sexting varied over time. For girls, 30.5% reported sexting at the first time point, 36.7% at the second, and 33.7% at the third. For boys, the figures were 33.1%, 29.9%, and 21.6%, respectively. Depression symptoms were generally higher among girls, while conduct problems were more common among boys.
Using a statistical method called the random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM), the researchers were able to separate individual differences from within-person effects over time. This method helps to determine whether changes in one variable predict changes in another within the same person.
The results showed no significant within-person effects of sexting on depression symptoms for either girls or boys. In other words, adolescents who increased their sexting behavior did not experience higher levels of depression compared to their usual levels. For girls, conduct problems at one time point were associated with increased sexting at the next time point, suggesting that conduct problems might lead to more sexting rather than the other way around.
“The study demonstrates that sexting does not contribute to increases in depression symptoms and conduct problems among adolescents over time,” Frøyland told PsyPost. “Accordingly, efforts to reduce sexting may not prevent mental health problems among young people. Practitioners should thus focus on educating adolescents on how to perform safe and responsible sexting.”
While this study provides valuable insights, it is not without limitations. One major limitation is that the questionnaire did not distinguish between consensual and non-consensual sexting. This distinction is crucial because non-consensual sexting, such as coercion or sharing without consent, could have different mental health impacts compared to consensual sexting.
“We cannot rule out that non-consensual sexting may negatively impact mental health while consensual does not,” Frøyland noted. “However, we mean that the methodological strength of the study outweighs this potential caveats.”
“I hope to be able to continue this line of research, both regarding the consensual use of digital media in adolescent sexuality and sexual violations associated with digital media. It should be expected that adolescents will continue to use digital media for sexual purposes, so we need to develop knowledge enabling them both to do this in a safe manner and to help them not violate others when doing this.”
The study, “Sexting and Mental Health in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study,” was authored by Roar Frøyland, Rikke Tokle, Jasmina Burdzovic Andreas, and Geir Scott Brunborg.
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Thanks to Phyllis Blanchard ExtrOversion is the prominent spelling of the word in the United States today.
In her 1918 paper, “A Psycho-Analytic Study of August Comte” she writes:
“In order to understand the marked contract between Comte’s mental attitude during his early years and that of his later life, we must keep in mind Jung’s hypothesis of the two psychological types, the introvert and extrovert, – the thinking type and the feeling type.”
Not only did she change the spelling of the word, but she also changed the definition!
I mostly agree with you, but economics is at best a heaping tablespoon of math and a sack of human behavioral psychology. Those guys really only know what’s going on 6 months after it happened.
A recent study published in the American Behavioral Scientist has shed light on the link between life dissatisfaction and the rise of right-wing populist movements in Europe. By analyzing survey data from 14 countries collected between 2012 and 2018, researchers found that individuals who are dissatisfied with their lives are more likely to hold negative views on immigration and distrust political institutions, which in turn increases their likelihood of supporting right-wing populist parties.
The researchers aimed to understand the psychological underpinnings of the growing support for right-wing populist parties across Europe. Previous studies have suggested that economic insecurity and cultural changes contribute to the success of these parties, but the role of personal dissatisfaction with life had not been systematically explored.
The researchers hypothesized that life dissatisfaction might be an important factor linking economic and cultural discontent to support for populist parties. By examining this link, they hoped to uncover a more comprehensive understanding of the motivations behind right-wing populist voting.
The study used data from the European Social Survey, which included responses from over 54,000 individuals across 14 countries: Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Only those who reported voting in the last national election were included in the analysis. The researchers focused on responses related to life satisfaction, political trust, attitudes towards immigration, and voting behavior.
Participants rated their life satisfaction on a scale from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction. Political trust was measured by asking respondents to evaluate their trust in various political institutions, while attitudes towards immigration were assessed through questions about the perceived impact of immigration on the economy, culture, and society. The main outcome of interest was whether participants voted for a right-wing populist party in the most recent national election.
The study revealed a significant association between life dissatisfaction and support for right-wing populist parties. Specifically, individuals in the lowest quartile of life satisfaction were almost twice as likely to vote for these parties compared to those in the highest quartile. This relationship held even after controlling for other factors such as age, gender, education, economic insecurity, and health.
Additionally, the researchers found that life dissatisfaction indirectly influenced right-wing populist voting through two key attitudes: political distrust and anti-immigration sentiment. Dissatisfied individuals were more likely to distrust political institutions and view immigration negatively, which in turn increased their likelihood of voting for right-wing populist parties. Notably, anti-immigration sentiment emerged as the stronger of the two mediators.
The study also found some variation across countries. For instance, the direct link between life dissatisfaction and right-wing populist voting was not significant in countries like Hungary and Italy, suggesting that contextual factors may influence this relationship. However, in most countries, anti-immigration sentiment consistently served as a critical path through which life dissatisfaction translated into support for right-wing populist parties.
While the study provides valuable insights, it also has several limitations. The cross-sectional design of the survey data means that causal relationships cannot be definitively established. The findings suggest associations, but they do not prove that life dissatisfaction causes individuals to vote for right-wing populist parties. Future research using longitudinal data would help to confirm these causal pathways.
The study, “Life Dissatisfaction and the Right-Wing Populist Vote: Evidence from the European Social Survey,” was authored by Annika Lindholm, Georg Lutz, and Eva G. T. Green.
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A recent paper published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy explores the relationship between BDSM and childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The findings suggest that for some individuals, engaging in BDSM may serve as a means of processing and healing from past trauma. But it also carries risks of retraumatization.
CSA affects millions of children worldwide. Defined by the World Health Organization as the involvement of a child in sexual activity they cannot fully comprehend or consent to, it often involves an abuse of power and trust by an adult or older child. The psychological impacts of CSA are profound and long-lasting, often extending into adulthood. Survivors frequently struggle with severe anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and low self-esteem.
BDSM refers to a variety of practices and role-playing activities involving bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism. These activities are characterized by consensual power dynamics and often involve the use of pain to enhance sexual gratification. Central to ethical BDSM practices is the principle of mutual consent, where all participants agree to the boundaries and activities involved.
“Our interest originated from our clinical practice with survivors, and with questions raised by professionals who wonder how to react toward BDSM practices in trauma survivors,” explained Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan, a senior faculty member at the School of Social Work at the University of Haifa and a certified sex therapist.
“We aim to better understand the unconscious mechanisms that might be at play and the potential therapeutic functions of BDSM practices among CSA victims. Given the profound and long-lasting effects of CSA, it is crucial to investigate all possible avenues for healing and processing trauma, including those that are less conventional and more stigmatized.”
Reviewing prior studies, the researchers found that while there is some evidence suggesting a higher prevalence of trauma among BDSM practitioners, the data is inconsistent. Some studies indicate that individuals who engage in BDSM report PTSD and trauma-related scores similar to the general population. For instance, one study among Australian respondents revealed no significant relationship between BDSM practices and experiences of sexual abuse.
Another study among participants in Finnish BDSM clubs showed a higher prevalence of CSA compared to the general population, but the majority of BDSM practitioners did not report such a history. This suggests that while a subset of BDSM practitioners might have experienced trauma, it is not a defining characteristic for most individuals in the community.
For some survivors of CSA, engaging in BDSM could offer a pathway to reclaim control and reframe their traumatic experiences, the researcher noted. Through the principles of safe, sane, and consensual practices, BDSM allows survivors to set boundaries, negotiate power dynamics, and explore their bodies in a controlled and consensual environment.
This can lead to a form of trauma-play where survivors deliberately revisit their trauma from a position of strength and agency. The process involves repetition and rescripting, where the negative emotions associated with past trauma are transformed into pleasurable sensations and feelings of mastery.
On the other hand, the researchers also investigated scenarios where BDSM practices might reproduce traumatic experiences for survivors of CSA. They found that the intense power dynamics and physical sensations inherent in BDSM can sometimes mirror the traumatic experiences of abuse.
For instance, consensual role-play involving control and submission might evoke memories of past non-consensual situations, leading to psychological harm. Additionally, if BDSM activities do not adhere strictly to consent boundaries, survivors might struggle to assert their limits, potentially re-experiencing feelings of powerlessness and violation.
The researchers noted that dissociation, a common coping mechanism for trauma survivors, could be invoked during BDSM activities, further complicating the individual’s ability to distinguish between consensual play and past abuse. Dissociation is a psychological coping mechanism where an individual detaches from their thoughts, feelings, or sense of identity to distance themselves from overwhelming experiences. Thus, while BDSM can be empowering for some, it can also inadvertently retraumatize others.
The paper highlights “that the relationship between BDSM and CSA is multifaceted and complex,” Gewirtz-Meydan told PsyPost. “BDSM practices can potentially serve as a medium for trauma survivors to reclaim control, explore boundaries, and reshape their relationship with their bodies in a consensual and safe environment. However, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution and should be approached with careful consideration and professional guidance.”
The findings should be interpreted with caution and seen as preliminary insights into a complex and evolving field due to several factors. First, the existing research on the relationship between BDSM and CSA is sparse and often inconsistent, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions.
“A significant caveat is the lack of sufficient empirical data to robustly support the clinical perspectives proposed,” Gewirtz-Meydan said. “The varied definitions and understandings of BDSM add complexity, and the motivations of CSA survivors engaging in BDSM are not fully understood. Furthermore, there is limited research on the potential risks and the possibility of re-traumatization for CSA survivors engaging in BDSM practices.”
Despite this, the review emphasizes the importance of clinicians handling the topic of BDSM with care and not automatically treating it as something abnormal or wrong.
“It is crucial for clinicians to approach this topic with sensitivity and avoid pathologizing BDSM practices,” Gewirtz-Meydan said. “Understanding the therapeutic potential of BDSM and fostering open, non-judgmental conversations about it can contribute to destigmatizing and empowering trauma survivors.”
“Our long-term goals include conducting more comprehensive empirical studies to understand the different trajectories that may lead CSA survivors to engage in BDSM and the impacts of these practices. We aim to provide clearer clinical guidelines for therapists working with survivors who are inclined towards BDSM and to explore the broader applications of BDSM as a potential therapeutic tool for various types of trauma.”
The study, “The Complex Interplay between BDSM and Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Form of Repetition and Dissociation or a Path Toward Processing and Healing?“, was authored by Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan, Natacha Godbout, Cloé Canivet, Tal Peleg-Sagy, and David Lafortune.
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A recent study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research has revealed a complex relationship between borderline personality traits and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents. The study, conducted over two years with middle school students, found that the presence of borderline personality traits can predict depressive symptoms and vice versa, buth with notable differences between boys and girls.
Adolescence is a period marked by significant changes—biological, emotional, cognitive, and social. This stage of development can increase vulnerability to mental health issues, particularly depression. Research indicates that around one-third of adolescents worldwide may experience depressive symptoms, with figures in China ranging from 17.9% to 25.8%. Amid various factors that contribute to adolescent depression, borderline personality disorder has often been overlooked.
Characterized by instability in emotions, identity, and relationships, borderline personality disorder can significantly impact mental health. Prior studies have shown a link between borderline personality traits and depressive symptoms, but whether this relationship is one-way or reciprocal remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify this relationship and explore whether gender influences these dynamics.
The researchers selected seventh-grade students from a middle school in Huaibei City, Anhui Province, China, for a longitudinal study. The first wave of the survey was conducted in September 2019, and the second wave followed in September 2021. Students completed self-report questionnaires that assessed their demographic information, depressive symptoms, and borderline personality traits. Only those who completed both surveys were included, resulting in a final sample of 1,608 students.
The questionnaires were administered by trained investigators without the presence of teachers to ensure confidentiality and independent responses. The Center for Childhood Epidemiology Research Depression Scale (CES-DC) was used to measure depressive symptoms, and the Chinese version of the Borderline Personality Profile Scale for Children (BPFS-C) assessed borderline personality traits. Both scales demonstrated high reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients indicating good internal consistency.
The study found intriguing patterns in the relationship between borderline personality traits and depressive symptoms. Overall, depressive symptoms and borderline personality traits decreased between the first and second survey waves. However, boys showed lower scores for both conditions compared to girls.
The analysis revealed a bidirectional relationship between borderline personality traits and depressive symptoms in boys: borderline traits predicted depressive symptoms two years later, and vice versa. For girls, the relationship was different; while borderline traits predicted future depressive symptoms, depressive symptoms did not predict future borderline traits.
Despite its significant findings, the study has several limitations. For instance, the sample was drawn from a single middle school, which may limit the generalizability of the results to other populations. In addition, the reliance on self-reported data introduces the possibility of response bias.
“Given the lack of research on bidirectional associations and gender differences between adolescent [borderline personality traits] and depressive symptoms, the specific reasons for these findings should be explored in more longitudinal studies in the future,” the researchers wrote.
The study, “Bidirectional relationship between borderline personality features and depressive symptoms in early adolescence: A school-based cohort study,” was authored by Shaojie Wang, Lulu Fang, Yuan Li, Leilei Cao, Gengfu Wang, Juan Chen, and Puyu Su.
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[4] Broman, Chad 2015 Why is Valentine’s Day so Important? A Time Analysis of Tiffany’s Relationship Expectations :: Journal of Psychological Machine Learning
[5] Broman, Chad 2016 A Play by Play Analysis of Purchasing a Luxury Speedboat during an out of Wedlock Pregnancy Scare :: Journal of Psychological Machine Learning
[6] Broman, Chad 2016 The Mood Metric Equivalent Measurement: How to Get Away with a 150$ Bar Tab :: Journal of Psychological Machine Learning
[7] Broman, Chad 2021 A Time Series Analysis of My Girlfriend’s Mood Swings :: Journal of Astrological Big Data Ecology
A recent study of employees in Germany found that higher sleep quality during weekends was associated with slightly lower levels of exhaustion during the workweek. These employees were better able to refocus on their work on Mondays, setting a positive tone for the entire week. The paper was published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior.
Typically, employees work from Monday to Friday and then enjoy two days of leisure on the weekend. After these days of relaxation, Monday, the first day of the workweek, demands a return to focus on work tasks, potentially making Monday the most unpopular day of the week, as the days of leisure and rest come to an end.
On Monday, employees need to undergo a process called psychological reattachment, which means they need to mentally reconnect to work. This involves thinking about their work-related goals again before actually starting work. Previous studies have emphasized the importance of mentally disconnecting from work for one’s well-being, but the topic of mentally reconnecting to work after leisure days has not been studied extensively.
Study author Jette Völker and her colleagues aimed to explore the role of sleep quality in mental reattachment to work after leisure days and its links to exhaustion at work and work task performance. They hypothesized that employees would report better reattachment to work on Mondays following weekends when they experienced higher-quality sleep. Conversely, weekends with catch-up sleep (sleep that compensates for previous lack of sleep) or disrupted natural sleep times due to social obligations and activities (social sleep lag) would be followed by lower levels of reattachment to work on Monday. Further, employees with higher-than-usual reattachment on Monday would experience lower levels of exhaustion and higher task performance during the workweek.
To test these hypotheses, the researchers conducted a weekly diary study with 310 employed individuals from Germany. The sample was predominantly female (81%), with an average age of 41 years. A majority (55%) held university degrees, and 77% lived without children in their households.
For five weeks, study participants answered surveys on Mondays and Fridays. On Mondays, they reported on their sleep during the weekend and mental reattachment to work. On Fridays, participants reported on their workweek exhaustion and task performance.
Results showed that weekends when participants slept better were indeed followed by better reattachment on Monday. In contrast, more catch-up sleep tended to be followed by lower reattachment on Monday. This was not the case with social sleep lag (having to go to sleep or wake up outside one’s natural pattern due to social obligations). Lower reattachment on Monday was associated with higher levels of exhaustion during the workweek, but was not linked to worse task performance.
“Our findings suggest that high-quality sleep during the weekend can be beneficial, but catching up on sleep during the weekend can be detrimental to Monday reattachment and, in turn, indirectly to workweek exhaustion. Accordingly, we demonstrate that Monday reattachment can set the tone for the entire workweek, but the capability to reattach depends on weekend sleep as a core recovery process,” the study authors concluded.
The study highlights the importance of weekend sleep quality for feelings of exhaustion during the workweek. However, the study relied solely on self-reports, which required participants to remember how they slept on previous days of the week, something people easily forget. Results might differ if objective measures of sleep quality were used.
The paper, “It is Monday again: Weekend sleep differentially relates to the workweek via reattachment on Monday,” was authored by Jette Völker, Monika Wiegelmann, Theresa J. S. Koch, and Sabine Sonnentag.
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A recent study published in the journal Sex Roles sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of bullying behavior among women. The research reveals that expressions of vulnerable narcissism, rather than grandiose narcissism, play a significant role in predicting verbal, physical, and indirect bullying.
Narcissism, a personality trait marked by grandiosity, entitlement, and a lack of empathy, is often divided into two types: grandiose and vulnerable. Grandiose narcissism is characterized by extraversion, dominance, and a need for admiration. In contrast, vulnerable narcissism involves introversion, hypersensitivity, and psychological distress.
Previous studies have predominantly focused on grandiose narcissism, which is more common in men. However, less is known about how these traits manifest in women, especially in the context of bullying. The new study aimed to fill this gap by examining the relationship between narcissism and bullying among adult women.
“We were interested in this topic because narcissism is a modern epidemic, yet little is known about narcissism in women. There is also limited research on adult bullying in friendships and the role narcissism plays in this,” said study author Ava Green, a lecturer in forensic psychology at City University of London.
“Part of this relates to the need to use gender-inclusive assessments of narcissism that move beyond traditional male- centric frameworks. Our research addresses this gap and identifies risk markers of bullying perpetration in narcissistic women; findings which can be used to inform future anti-bullying prevention programmes.”
“Narcissism is a complex personality trait. We all exhibit narcissistic features to varying degrees, which can be expressed in both grandiose and vulnerable forms,” Green explained. “Individuals who exhibit more grandiose features are self-assured and socially dominant whereas individuals who exhibit more vulnerable features are introverted and have lower self- esteem. Both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism share an antagonistic core, demonstrated by high levels of entitlement and willingness to exploit others.”
“Gender socialization practices further shape the expression of grandiose features which overlap with masculinity (assertiveness, authoritarian character style, overt superiority) and vulnerable features which overlap with femininity (hypersensitivity, neuroticism, inhibition). As expected, in our study we found women scored significantly higher on vulnerable narcissism than grandiose narcissism.”
For their study, the researchers recruited 314 women aged 18 to 76 from social media platforms and the participant pool at City University of London. These participants were asked to complete an online survey that included demographic questions, the Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI), and a bullying questionnaire.
The bullying questionnaire assessed three types of bullying behaviors: physical, verbal, and indirect (e.g., spreading rumors). Participants indicated how often they had engaged in these behaviors in their friendships on a six-point scale.
The study found that women with higher levels of vulnerable narcissism were more likely to engage in physical and verbal bullying. In contrast, grandiose narcissism was positively related to bullying but did not uniquely predict bullying behavior when both types of narcissism were considered together.
For example, 10% of the variance in physical bullying was explained by vulnerable narcissism, while grandiose narcissism accounted for less than 1%. Similar patterns were observed for verbal bullying, where vulnerable narcissism uniquely accounted for 3.2% of the variance.
“Bullying in women has often been associated with indirect, relational aggression (social ostracism of peers, manipulation, spreading vicious rumours). When taking into consideration vulnerable narcissistic features, women enact overt and physical forms of bullying too,” Green told PsyPost.
“At first glance, it may be conceivable to interpret the overt forms of bullying as indicative of women exhibiting traits (overt superiority, entitlement, and assertiveness) that do not conform with their expected gender norms. However, although narcissistic women appear to aggress in similar ways as narcissistic men, women’s vulnerable presentation of narcissism may be a more effective disguise to express violence in both indirect and direct ways to acquire and preserve power in friendships, whilst minimising risks regarding violations of normative expressions (Green et al., 2019; 2020b, 2022). These gendered risk markers may reflect developmental and socialised differences whereby narcissistic women use more tactful and subtle means in their strive for power and status (Green et al., 2019; 2020b).”
Interestingly, a facet of vulnerable narcissism known as “devaluing” was a significant predictor of both verbal and indirect bullying. This facet reflects a dependency on others for admiration and anger when these expectations are not met.
“Female narcissism is an under-researched area, but our findings suggest it should not be overlooked,” Green explained. “We found that women exhibiting higher levels of vulnerable narcissistic traits, but not grandiose traits, were significantly more likely to report enacting physical bullying (‘I forcefully pushed someone’) and verbal forms of bullying (‘I threatened to harm another person’) towards their peers.”
“More specifically, greater endorsement of traits reflective of devaluing others (‘I sometimes feel ashamed about my expectations of others when they disappoint me’) were positively associated with verbal and indirect bullying (‘I have spread negative rumours about someone that may or may not have been true’).”
As with all research, however, there are some caveats to consider. The study relied on self-reported data, which can be biased by social desirability. Because of this, bullying might have been underreported. Including measures to control for this social desirability biases in future research would strengthen the findings. The study also did not collect data on the gender of the bullying targets, which might have affected participants’ responses. Future research should explore if indirect or direct bullying varies based on the target’s gender.
Nevertheless, the findings of this study have significant implications for understanding and addressing bullying among women. In future research, Green hopes “to identify risk markers that can inform future interventions,” ultimately helping to reduce bullying behaviors among narcissistic women.
The study, “Mean Girls in Disguise? Associations Between Vulnerable Narcissism and Perpetration of Bullying Among Women,” was authored by Ava Green and Claire M. Hart.
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A recent study published in Communications Psychology has found that some individuals, referred to as “Super Synchronizers,” have a unique ability to synchronize their physiological responses with others across various social and non-social tasks. These individuals are perceived as more attractive. This suggests that the ability to synchronize might play a significant role in human romantic attraction.
Physiological synchrony refers to the phenomenon where the physiological responses of two individuals align or mirror each other during social interactions. This can include synchrony in heart rates, respiration, hormone levels, and other autonomic functions. When two people are in sync, their bodies reflect this harmony through matched rhythms in these various biological processes.
Previous research has established the importance of physiological synchrony in various social contexts. Studies have shown that synchrony between romantic partners can enhance feelings of closeness and relationship satisfaction. For example, partners whose heart rates or respiratory patterns align during interactions tend to report higher levels of intimacy and cooperation. Physiological synchrony has also been observed in parent-infant interactions.
Despite the prior findings on physiological synchrony, several critical questions remain unanswered, prompting the need for new research. One major gap is understanding whether synchrony actively drives attraction or if it is merely a byproduct of existing attraction. In other words, do people become more synchronized because they are already attracted to each other, or does increased synchrony itself enhance attraction?
“In my lab, we study the biological mechanisms that glue two individuals together in close bonds. In this study, we aimed to discover a biological mechanism that impacts mate selection in humans and how the ability to synchronize can signify fitness,” said study author Shir Atzil, the director of the Bonding Neuroscience Lab and an assistant professor at Hebrew University.
The researchers first conducted an online experiment to explore the relationship between physiological synchrony and attractiveness. They recruited 144 participants, who were shown a 92-second video featuring a man and a woman interacting. These interactions were designed to exhibit either high or low levels of synchrony. The high synchrony condition involved actors being attuned and responsive to each other, while the low synchrony condition had them act more independently and less influenced by their partner.
Participants were randomly assigned to watch one of these two types of interactions. After viewing the video, participants rated the attractiveness of the man and the woman separately and their perceived mutual attraction.
The results showed that participants rated both the actors and their perceived mutual attraction higher in the high synchrony condition compared to the low synchrony condition. This demonstrated that synchrony between individuals during interactions could enhance their perceived attractiveness, suggesting that synchrony might play an active role in eliciting attraction rather than being merely a consequence of it.
Next, the researchers conducted a speed-dating experiment to investigate physiological synchrony’s role in real-life romantic settings. Forty-eight participants (24 men and 24 women) participated in a series of speed dates. Each participant met with four different partners for five-minute dates conducted in a room set up to resemble a comfortable, home-like environment. During these dates, participants wore Empatica E4 wristbands that measured their electrodermal activity, providing a continuous record of their physiological arousal levels.
Before each date, participants rated their initial interest in their partner. After each date, they rated their level of attraction to their partner. These ratings were averaged across all dates to calculate each participant’s Individual Romantic Attractiveness Scores. Additionally, the wristband data was used to compute each participant’s Individual Electrodermal Synchrony Scores by calculating the correlation between the electrodermal activity levels of each pair during their dates.
In addition to the speed dates, participants completed a finger-tapping task designed to measure nonsocial synchrony. In this task, participants tapped their fingers in time with a metronome, allowing the researchers to assess their ability to synchronize with an external, non-human rhythm.
The researchers found that some individuals consistently exhibited higher levels of synchrony, regardless of their partner or the task. These “Super Synchronizers” were rated as more attractive by their speed-dating partners.
Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between an individual’s ability to synchronize in the social context of speed dating and their performance in the nonsocial finger-tapping task. This suggested that the ability to synchronize might be a general trait that influences attractiveness across different types of interactions.
“We discovered that the ability to synchronize is stable across tasks and across partners. Some people are Super Synchronizers, and Super Synchronizers are consistently rated as more attractive. Being sensitive to a partner and attuning to them can help promote romantic bonding. This is because synchronized physiological states can improve regulation across various bodily systems, making interactions more fulfilling and suggesting cognitive and evolutionary advantages.”
This study provides compelling evidence that physiological synchrony plays a significant role in romantic attraction. But as with all research, there are some caveats to consider. While the researchers manipulated synchrony in the online experiment, the speed-dating experiment relied on natural interactions, making it difficult to establish a causal relationship between synchrony and attraction definitively. Future research could attempt to manipulate synchrony during actual dates to see its effects on romantic interest and long-term relationship outcomes.
Looking forward, Atzil and her colleagues also plan to conduct additional research to “characterize Super Synchronizers and their neural, behavioral, and physiological profile.”
The study, “Social and nonsocial synchrony are interrelated and romantically attractive,” was authored by Matan Cohen, Maayan Abargil, and Shir Atzil.
M. Cohen, M. Abargil, M. Ahissar & S. Atzil
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Allen Ray McGrew, 41, was found laying in the road. He put a firework on his head, and it exploded while on his head, causing massive head injuries, officials said....
The writings of the person who killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville last year cannot be released to the public, a judge ruled Thursday....
That’s apples and oranges. This shooter has the potential to be the Trans version of Elliot Rodgers. Trying to attach a christo-facist motivation to this ruling is a stretch and a half.
The motivations of mass killers isn’t really relevant for anything. People capable of that level of violence are such an anomaly that other indicators are more important, from a psychological perspective, than their self-determined motives.
Largest mass killer in us history was the Vegas shooter, Stephen Paddock. His motivation was that he was feeling slighted by the casinos for not getting enough perks for being a “big spender”. What is a psychologist supposed to do with that for helping prevent other mass shooters? Trying to attach some silence of the lambs bullshit to crimes like this is foolish. Even then, that’s the FBI doing it which then can be trickled out to medical journals etc. The best thing for the public is for these killer to be remembered as dead monsters.
The Kremlin is obviously a Mosque. Pooty-poo’s BFF and primary assassin (word origin, Muslim) is Kadyrov, a Muslim. St. Petersburg at one time held the highest Jewish metropolitan population in the world. It says it’s Christian but Patriarch Kirill likes to wear Rolex and is covered in tattoos.
Russia has had uninterrupted continuous control of the North Pole, the geographic center of Nation State power (Northern Hemisphere), probably since 900, and brags about this fact and the fact they can destroy the whole world with nuclear technology making it the primary terrorist, by definition, in the world.
Russia invented the modern prison industrial complex, the Gulag. Russia invented Nation-State PyOps. Russia had for nearly a century or more, total control of Afghanistan, the first place where Marijjuana was cultivated, same parallel/latitude as Humbolt County California. Afghanistan, also one of the first places were Poppy Fields were cultivated en-masse. Academic Historians will say Russia failed there, I say the opposite.
Now here is something wierd and fun to investiage for internet slueths!
If you are an internet afficionado you’ve noticed over two decades that Google and nearly all other search engines routed all conspiracy theories to really one place, Godlikeproductions. In this place, this forum, run out of the island Nation of Jersey, which is self governing…you cannot post two words, “Tavistock”, the British The Tavistock Institute and “Bolshevik” as in Revoluion. Don’t believe me, try it yourself.
Spending a couple hours reading that legendary conspiracy forum you’ll notice two things: It loves Trump and Russia. If you go against either of those things there, your logical argument will be minimzed/trivialized, your life threatened, and reputation ridiculted, sometimes with very personal insults. You can just read/lurk and see how many times a life threat is made in one day on that site.
If nothing else, it’s a fantastic study in psychology as it’s visited daily by people all over the world. Try to see how many other words are banned!
P.S. I was one of the people responsible for the Call of Duty: Know Your History, Commercial
Sure, but through your link, I found the list of projects. In hopes that a project always has a repo associated, here comes the quiz: Can you guess which 2 of these projects I made up? 🙃
Welp. I didn’t want to make it too difficult either, especially with how funky some of the real projects are. Would be cool, though, if more psychology software existed. Surely, there’s a lot you could do with video games / simulations.
The combination of critical thinking and critical evaluation leads, inexorably, to critical theory. This is where critical race theory, critical psychology, critical sociology, and critical pedagogy arise.
So many people that take psychology courses end up working in the advertisement industry because that’s where the jobs are if you have a psychology degree. Very few people sit back and think about the implications of the scientific study of the mind being used by companies to distort peoples perceptions and make them buy...
I am digging up this old thread to add that the social media scrolling epidemic probably employs a behavior modification technique named ‘partial reinforcement’ when the desired behavior is not always rewarded but occasionally simplypsychology.org/schedules-of-reinforcement.h… The learned behavior is stronger. You see people scrolling endlessly even in platforms there is no advertising. Or you see people, even the Internet is out, they will still kill some time on the computer or phone playing games they would never open otherwise. They have been conditioned to be in position to consume “content”. This persistence of learned behavior is typical of the partial reinforcement schedule. Now what is the reward? Perhaps rage, arousal, or other stimulation. You scroll and scroll anyhow, till something dopamine-inducing comes up. The behavior persists even in other platforms. If you are interested I have started a thread about an attrition approach to major platforms (lemmy.ml/post/17679530/12103132), and what OP calls the weaponization of psychology by advertising platforms is something that doesn’t sit well with me, from a humanitarian and anarchist perspective.
eBook Library Structure
TL;DR: How do you sort your books for your book server?...
Why are US states, school districts banning smartphones in schools? (www.aljazeera.com)
“Morality and ethics should play no part”: Leaks reveal how Russia's foreign intelligence agency runs disinformation campaigns in the West (theins.press)
Archived version...
Introverts use more concrete language than extraverts | BPS (www.bps.org.uk)
Americans can no longer afford a summer vacation (www.newsweek.com)
Sub Sampling
France asks two Chinese spies to leave the country after attempt to forcibly repatriate exiled Chinese dissident (www.lemonde.fr)
cross-posted from: feddit.org/post/509234...
France asks two Chinese spies to leave the country after attempt to forcibly repatriate exiled Chinese dissident (www.lemonde.fr)
cross-posted from: feddit.org/post/509234...
South Carolina Man Dies After Firework Explodes On His Head (www.wccbcharlotte.com)
Allen Ray McGrew, 41, was found laying in the road. He put a firework on his head, and it exploded while on his head, causing massive head injuries, officials said....
Judge says Nashville school shooter's writings can't be released as victims' families have copyright (apnews.com)
The writings of the person who killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville last year cannot be released to the public, a judge ruled Thursday....
“We must cultivate a society that can critically think, resist disinformation, and not succumb to fear”: Czech report warns against Russian tactics across Europe to undermine support for Ukraine (www.euractiv.com)
cross-posted from: feddit.org/post/490647...
Flatpak haters seem to believe that if an app isn't on their distro's repos, it's the developers' fault. (lemmy.world)
If there's one thing you want people to learn, what would it be and why?
Me: Composting
It's disturbing how we as a society are okay with ad companies weaponsing psychology
So many people that take psychology courses end up working in the advertisement industry because that’s where the jobs are if you have a psychology degree. Very few people sit back and think about the implications of the scientific study of the mind being used by companies to distort peoples perceptions and make them buy...