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(https://www.psypost.org/married-couples-vocabulary-sizes-align-hinting-at-selection-based-on-intelligence-cues/) Married couples’ vocabulary sizes align, hinting at selection based on intelligence cues
Nov 11th 2024, 08:00

A study of married couples in the United Kingdom found that marital partners tend to have similar vocabulary sizes. Even after controlling for years of marriage, a substantial correlation between partners’ vocabulary sizes remained, indicating that vocabulary size was likely an important factor in choosing a partner. The paper was published in (https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9090297) Languages.
Individuals vary widely in how many different words they know, understand, and use effectively. The total number of words an individual can understand and use in spoken or written language is known as their vocabulary size. Vocabulary size generally grows throughout life, influenced by factors such as education, reading habits, and social environment. Growth is especially rapid in childhood but slows as people reach adulthood.
Adults in societies where their native language is spoken, on average, know tens of thousands of words. People with rich vocabularies tend to have better communication skills, are better able to understand written text, and show more cognitive flexibility in processing language. Vocabulary size might also be a signal that people use when choosing a romantic partner.
Studies indicate that vocabulary knowledge is associated with crystallized intelligence, potentially signaling to partners that an individual might obtain a better education, be more capable of securing resources, or effectively resolve problems—all of which are important factors in partner selection.
The study’s authors, Michael Daller and Zehra Ongun, sought to explore whether vocabulary size plays a role in partner selection. They also wanted to know if this role is the same for both male and female partners, or if it is primarily females who are attracted to male partners with a larger vocabulary. Additionally, they were interested in whether the length of marriage is associated with vocabulary size in marital partners.
The study participants were 83 Turkish-English bilingual married couples living in the U.K. Their marriages ranged in length from 9 to 23 years, and participants were between 27 and 57 years old at the time of the study.
The participants completed assessments of their vocabulary size in both English and Turkish (an X-lex test). The assessments included 100 real words and 20 pseudo or non-words (texts that look like words but have no meaning). The words in the assessment varied in how commonly they are used in everyday communication, with some words being very common and others quite rare.
Results showed that participants with larger vocabulary sizes in English tended to have lower vocabulary sizes in Turkish and vice versa. Marital partners tended to have similar vocabulary sizes; in other words, men with smaller vocabulary sizes tended to be married to women with smaller vocabulary sizes, and the same was true for those with larger vocabulary sizes.
After controlling for years of marriage, this strong similarity in partners’ vocabulary sizes persisted. The study authors concluded that it is not accommodation during the marriage that leads to similar vocabulary sizes but rather that vocabulary size likely played a crucial role at the time of partner selection.
The study authors explained that “intelligence, education, and wealth are important assets for the value of a person on the biological market of partner selection. These psychological and economic traits cannot be judged directly but need to be inferred by a proxy, such as the vocabulary size. Vocabulary size cannot be manipulated at will and is therefore an honest signal for these traits.”
However, they cautioned against overinterpreting their findings, noting that “we acknowledge that it is a massive leap to draw conclusions from the present correlations about a decision-making process years ago when the partners met. However, we still claim that knowledge of infrequent vocabulary, be it productive or receptive, is human capital that is acquired through a lengthy and costly process of education. It is of course only one asset amongst many others that are important in partner selection.”
The study makes a valuable contribution to understanding the intricacies of romantic partner selection. However, the study was conducted on a small group of English-Turkish bilinguals (individuals speaking both languages). Results on other cultural and language groups might not be identical.
The paper, “(https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9090297) Size Matters: Vocabulary Knowledge as Advantage in Partner Selection,” was authored by Michael Daller and Zehra Ongun.

(https://www.psypost.org/people-with-psychopathic-traits-fail-to-learn-from-painful-outcomes/) People with psychopathic traits fail to learn from painful outcomes
Nov 11th 2024, 06:00

A recent study published in (https://www.nature.com/articles/s44271-024-00133-1) Communications Psychology reveals that individuals with higher psychopathic traits show reduced sensitivity to pain, which affects their ability to learn from painful consequences. The researchers found that people with elevated psychopathic traits tend to revert quickly to initial beliefs after experiencing pain. This new insight could help us understand why individuals with these traits often struggle to adapt their behavior despite negative consequences.
People with psychopathic traits frequently ignore the negative consequences of their actions, likely due to differences in how they process punishment. Past studies have indicated that psychopathy is associated with both an insensitivity to punishment and an excessive drive toward reward, but this study aimed to explore the computational learning processes specifically related to pain. Pain can serve as a powerful teaching signal, so understanding how reduced pain sensitivity influences learning in people with psychopathic traits could shed light on the mechanisms behind their often harmful decision-making.
“One of the hallmarks of psychopathy is aggressive, exploitative behavior with little regard for the wellbeing of others,” said study author (https://www.ru.nl/personen/atanassova-d) Dimana Atanassova, a postdoctoral researcher at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour at Radboud University.
“At the same time, what we know from research is that people with psychopathic traits consistently fail to change their behaviour even after receiving punishment, which suggests they struggle to learn from the negative consequences of their actions. However, the mechanisms of this impaired learning are still not fully clear.”
“In this line of research, I was interested in uncovering the specific learning mechanisms that might be impaired in individuals with high psychopathic traits as a way to understand the drivers of their antisocial behaviour, as well as identify potential intervention targets.”
For their study, the researchers recruited 106 participants from the general population and measured each person’s level of psychopathic traits using a self-report questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed multiple dimensions of psychopathy, including interpersonal traits (such as manipulativeness), affective traits (like lack of empathy), and lifestyle traits (such as impulsivity).
The participants then underwent a series of controlled pain assessments. The researchers used a device to deliver mild electrical shocks to each participant’s arm, measuring their threshold (the lowest level at which pain was first noticed) and tolerance (the maximum pain level they were willing to endure). These measurements gave the researchers a reliable gauge of each participant’s sensitivity to pain.
After the pain assessment, participants completed a computer-based learning task where they chose between two options, each carrying a possibility of either reward or punishment. In one part of the task, choosing correctly led to monetary rewards, while incorrect choices resulted in a financial penalty. In the other part, incorrect choices led to small electric shocks, while correct choices brought a reward similar in value to the monetary one.
The researchers used a computational model, known as the hierarchical Gaussian filter, to analyze each participant’s learning patterns and behavior. This model allowed researchers to evaluate how participants updated their beliefs after each reward or punishment and whether they were likely to change their choices after painful experiences or to return to their original choices.
Atanassova and her colleagues found that individuals with higher psychopathic traits displayed distinct differences in how they learned from painful outcomes. These individuals were less sensitive to pain and showed a tendency to revert to their initial expectations even after experiencing a painful consequence, a process the researchers termed “belief resetting.”
In other words, instead of adapting their behavior in response to pain, individuals with higher psychopathic traits more readily dismissed the painful outcome and returned to their original beliefs. This impaired learning mechanism provides insights into the poor decision-making often observed in individuals with elevated psychopathic traits, as their reduced pain sensitivity seems to prevent them from adjusting their behavior based on painful feedback. Interestingly, this belief-resetting behavior did not occur in non-painful situations, suggesting that the impaired learning was unique to experiences involving pain.
“The exploitative, antisocial behavior of those with high psychopathic traits has often been looked at through the prism of callousness or lack of remorse—in a sense, that they simply don’t care about the consequences,” Atanassova told PsyPost. “But this study’s findings suggest that the problem might be (partially) explained with a deficit in how they learn about consequences. More specifically, that they persist with a given course of action even when they suffer painful consequences due to a combination of insensitivity to pain and an impairment in an underlying cognitive learning mechanism.”
One of the main limitations of this study is that the sample was composed of individuals from the general population, so the findings may not fully apply to those with extreme psychopathic traits, such as individuals in prison settings.
“While there is evidence that high psychopathic traits are present to a certain extent in the general population, it’s important to note that none of the participants in this sample had a prior conviction or incarceration; therefore, we cannot generalize these results to offender populations,” Atanassova said. “Still, the study’s results point to the fact that even sub-clinical psychopathic traits might be accompanied by a deficit in learning that potentially contributes to more antisocial behavior.”
Future research could explore the mechanisms involved, such as the brain activity underlying these processes.
“Given the propensity of those with psychopathic traits to engage in violence and aggression, understanding why they don’t learn from negative consequences and how they process pain (both of their victims and their own, for instance in the case of social exclusion or incarceration) is essential,” Atanassova explained.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00133-1) Diminished pain sensitivity mediates the relationship between psychopathic traits and reduced learning from pain,” was authored by Dimana V. Atanassova, Christoph Mathys, Andreea O. Diaconescu, Victor I. Madariaga, Joukje M. Oosterman, and Inti A. Brazil.

(https://www.psypost.org/people-whose-parents-suffered-from-substance-use-disorders-are-more-likely-to-develop-psychiatric-disorders/) People whose parents suffered from substance use disorders are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders
Nov 10th 2024, 12:00

A study of over a million people in Sweden found that individuals whose parents had a substance use disorder face an increased risk of receiving a psychiatric diagnosis. The risk was found to be 80% higher for males and 56% higher for females. The findings were published in the (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.09.010) Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Substance use disorders are a group of conditions involving the recurrent use of substances, like drugs or alcohol, despite harmful consequences to physical, mental, or social health. These disorders are characterized by an inability to control usage, intense cravings, and continued use despite negative impacts on relationships, work, or health.
While it is well-known that substance use disorders have negative consequences for the individual, research has recently begun to focus on the effects of these disorders on others, known as the “harm to others” framework. A key area of these studies is the impact on children growing up with parents affected by substance use disorders. These children have been found to have lower academic achievement than their peers whose parents do not have such disorders, as well as an increased risk of various mental health and developmental issues.
Study author Hélio Manhica and his colleagues aimed to explore the mental health risks for children of parents with substance use disorders in greater detail. They also sought to determine whether these risks differ between males and females and if certain periods in childhood or adolescence are particularly critical in relation to exposure to parental substance use disorder (i.e., periods that influence the overall risk of developing psychiatric disorders).
The study included 1,093,225 individuals born between 1981 and 1990 who resided in Sweden during their childhood and adolescence. Study participants were followed from birth until a maximum age of 25. The study excluded individuals who died or received a psychiatric diagnosis before 18 years of age.
Researchers tracked whether either parent of a participant had been diagnosed with an alcohol or drug use disorder, as well as whether the participant had been diagnosed with any psychiatric disorder. Additional data included participants’ origin (native Swedish, youth migrants, or offspring of migrants), place of birth, relative poverty, parental psychiatric diagnoses other than substance use disorders, and participants’ school grades.
Results showed that around 4% of participants were exposed to parental substance use disorder during childhood and adolescence, and approximately 14% received a psychiatric diagnosis between 18 and 35 years of age.
Participants with parents who had substance use disorders were almost twice as likely to receive a psychiatric diagnosis. The risk was 116% higher for men and 80% higher for women. However, when researchers adjusted for factors such as relative poverty, year of birth, participants’ origin, and the size of the settlement they lived in, the increased risk was somewhat lower.
After these adjustments, men with parents affected by substance use disorder were 80% more likely to receive a psychiatric diagnosis compared to their peers whose parents did not have such a disorder. This risk was 56% higher in women with affected parents.
Individuals exposed to parental substance use disorder between birth and age 12 faced a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders compared to those exposed between ages 13 and 18.
When examining specific diagnoses, individuals exposed to parental substance use disorder were approximately 2.5 times more likely to develop substance use disorders themselves and around 2.2 times more likely to develop externalizing disorders (e.g., aggression, impulsivity, rule-breaking).
“Individuals who were exposed to parental SUD [substance use disorder] before the age of 18 years had an increased risk for subsequent psychiatric disorders. These risks seemed to be somewhat higher among males and among those exposed during childhood when compared to during adolescence,” the study authors concluded.
The study sheds light on the link between parental substance use disorder and the risk of psychiatric disorders in offspring. However, it should be noted that the study’s design does not allow for cause-and-effect conclusions. While it is possible that living with parents affected by substance use disorder increases the risk of psychiatric disorders in children, this increased risk may also stem from genetic factors shared between parents and children, or from shared environmental and living conditions.
The paper, “(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.09.010) Parental substance use disorders and psychiatric conditions in offspring: a Swedish population-based cohort study with over 1000000 individuals,” was authored by Hélio Manhica, Andreas Lundin, Peter Wennberg, and Anna-Karin Danielsson.

(https://www.psypost.org/new-study-links-dark-triad-traits-to-burnout-in-academia/) New study links dark triad traits to burnout in academia
Nov 10th 2024, 10:00

A new study published in (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824003779) Acta Psychologica suggests that specific personality “dark triad” traits linked to manipulative and self-centered behavior may increase the risk of burnout in academic settings, particularly through perfectionistic tendencies. Researchers found that traits like Machiavellianism and psychopathy are associated with burnout in university students, with perfectionistic self-presentation playing a key role in this connection.
The “dark triad” is a set of three personality traits known for their socially aversive qualities: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. While each trait has distinct characteristics, they share certain features, such as a tendency toward self-promotion, emotional detachment, and manipulation. People high in Machiavellianism are known for their manipulative, strategic, and often exploitative behavior, with a cynical view of human nature.
Narcissism is characterized by grandiosity, entitlement, and a focus on personal superiority. Finally, psychopathy encompasses traits like impulsivity, thrill-seeking, a lack of empathy, and disregard for others’ well-being. Although these traits don’t reach levels seen in clinical disorders, they can still influence behavior in negative ways, especially in competitive or high-pressure environments.
Burnout is a prevalent issue in academic settings, characterized by emotional exhaustion, detachment, and a sense of reduced personal efficacy. Previous studies have shown that certain personality traits, like neuroticism, increase vulnerability to burnout, but the role of darker traits is less understood. Since individuals with dark triad traits often have high expectations for personal success but tend to disregard collaborative norms or struggle with emotional regulation, they may be more susceptible to the pressures of academic life.
“I’ve always been fascinated by forensic psychology, which led me to choose it as both my undergraduate major and my focus for graduate study. When I explored the concept of the dark triad—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—I became especially interested in examining these toxic personality traits in depth,” said study author Melissa Klerks, who conducted the research while studying for her master’s degree at Tilburg University.
“Given the growing prevalence of academic burnout, I was intrigued to find that recent research links certain personality traits with an increased vulnerability to burnout, especially among students. This discovery sparked my curiosity: could dark triad traits also make individuals more susceptible to burnout in academic settings?”
“Perfectionistic self-presentation could be particularly interesting to study because it highlights a unique, socially-driven aspect of perfectionism that may be especially relevant in demanding environments like academia. Perfectionistic self-presentation is focused on appearing perfect to others, which brings its own set of psychological challenges and stressors, often leading to chronic stress and eventually burnout.”
The study involved 304 undergraduate and graduate students aged 18 to 27. Most participants identified as White, with a smaller proportion identifying as Black, Asian, Hispanic, or other ethnicities. The students completed a survey that included several self-report instruments measuring their levels of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism, and perfectionistic self-presentation, as well as burnout.
To gauge burnout, the study used the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey, a common tool for measuring burnout in academic settings. This tool assesses three main dimensions: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of reduced personal accomplishment. Participants were also asked about perfectionistic self-presentation, which is the tendency to project a flawless image, avoid displaying imperfection, and keep imperfections hidden from others.
The researchers found that students who scored higher in Machiavellianism and psychopathy were more likely to report symptoms of burnout, particularly when they felt compelled to present a flawless image, avoid showing imperfection, or hide their mistakes. Each of these aspects of perfectionism strengthened the link between these traits and burnout, though the effect sizes were small.
The researchers suggest that individuals high in Machiavellianism may be prone to burnout due to their tendency toward cynicism, a core feature of academic burnout. Psychopathy, on the other hand, may increase burnout due to emotional detachment or lack of empathy, which can lead to social isolation.
Unlike Machiavellianism and psychopathy, narcissism’s relationship with burnout was more complex. Only one aspect of perfectionistic self-presentation—hiding imperfections—significantly mediated the relationship between narcissism and burnout. Narcissists who were driven to hide their mistakes were more prone to burnout, suggesting that they may fear perceived failures could damage their carefully crafted self-image. Interestingly, while narcissism often involves self-promotion, this trait did not show a significant connection to burnout when it came to appearing perfect.
“What surprised me most in the findings was that despite the challenges commonly associated with detecting significant mediation effects, our study found robust evidence of multiple mediations,” Klerks told PsyPost. “This suggests that the relationships explored in our study are indeed meaningful and highlight the importance of the identified mediators in understanding academic burnout.”
Overall, the study’s findings support the idea that perfectionistic tendencies can be a pathway through which these dark traits lead to academic burnout. Although the effects were generally small, the connections were significant enough to indicate that perfectionism, especially hiding flaws, can turn the pressures of academic settings into burnout risks for those with dark traits.
“Burnout is a significant issue among students, and addressing it early on is essential for long-term well-being,” Klerks said. “Our study emphasizes the need to focus on managing perfectionistic tendencies and the dark triad personality traits for prevention and intervention of burnout within academia. Insights from this research can help make academia a healthier, more supportive environment, and it opens conversations about well-being in educational spaces where performance pressures are high.”
This study contributes to the understanding of burnout in students but has some limitations. Since it was a self-reported survey, participants might have responded in socially desirable ways, potentially underreporting traits seen as negative. The study was also limited to students within a Dutch university, so the findings might not generalize to other cultures or demographic groups.
“While this research is an important step forward, the results do not establish causality,” Klerks said. “Additionally, there is a lack of evidence on why the connection between the dark triad and perfectionistic tendencies makes people more vulnerable to experience burnout—problematic emotion regulation could be the common factor. Therefore, further research is necessary.”
“This research started as my master’s thesis and was developed into a publication with support from Dr. Elien de Caluwé, my thesis supervisor, and Roberta Dumitrescu. Long-term, I’d love to expand on my master’s thesis by doing longitudinal studies to explore causal relationships more directly. By tracking these patterns over time, I hope to better understand how traits like perfectionism and personality impact burnout and well-being, which could help shape healthier academic and professional environments.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104499) The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentation,” was authored by Melissa Klerks, Roberta Dumitrescu, and Elien De Caluwé.

Forwarded by:
Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD

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