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PsyPost – Psychology News Daily Digest (Unofficial)

 

(https://www.psypost.org/higher-social-class-voters-prioritize-competence-and-rely-more-on-facial-cues-when-judging-politicians/) Higher social class voters prioritize competence and rely more on facial cues when judging politicians
Feb 20th 2025, 08:00

Looking competent matters for electoral success, but its appeal varies by social class, according to research published in (https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672231181465) Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin.
The way politicians look can influence voting decisions. Prior studies have shown that voters tend to favor candidates who appear competent, even when they lack other information about them. This phenomenon has been observed across various electoral contexts and has been linked to actual election outcomes. But do all voters rely on this visual cue equally?
Fabienne Unkelbach and colleagues investigated whether social class plays a role in how much voters prioritize competence in politicians. They hypothesized that individuals from higher socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds would value competence more because it aligns with their self-perception. High-status individuals often see themselves as more competent, and research suggests that people tend to evaluate others based on traits they consider central to their own identity.
The first study surveyed a representative German sample of 2,239 participants, asking them to rate the importance of various traits in politicians, including competence, assertiveness, warmth, and trustworthiness. Participants also assessed their own competence. SES was measured through household income and education level, while Subjective Social Status (SSS) was assessed using the MacArthur Scale, where participants ranked themselves on a 10-rung visual ladder based on perceived social standing.
In Studies 2a and 2b (N = 396), participants viewed ten portraits of unknown male politicians, sourced from the Swiss National Parliament’s website to ensure consistent portrait style. The politicians were preselected based on competence and warmth ratings from an independent pretest, where 80 participants rated subsets of portraits on an 11-point scale. Each participant saw a randomized mix of high- and low-competence politicians and rated their likelihood of voting for them on an 11-point scale. Afterward, they rated each politician’s warmth and competence. SES and SSS were measured at the end of the study. A key difference was that participants were not explicitly told to evaluate competence, allowing the researchers to assess whether it naturally influenced voting decisions. Of note is that Study 2a had an error in image selection, leading to Study 2b, which corrected the imbalance by including an equal number of high- and low-competence politicians.
Study 3 refined this method by expanding the number of politicians from 10 to 32, covering a broader range of perceived competence levels instead of a simple high vs. low classification. Unlike Study 2, where competence and warmth ratings preceded voting decisions, Study 3 measured voting likelihood first to prevent prior trait evaluations from influencing choices. Additionally, dominance was introduced as a control variable. A separate group of 400 participants rated the same politicians on competence, warmth, and dominance, allowing the researchers to rule out dominance as a confounding factor. SES and SSS were again measured at the end.
Findings from Study 1 supported the hypothesis that higher-SES individuals place greater importance on competence in politicians. Not only did they explicitly rate competence as more crucial, but they also perceived themselves as more competent. This self-perception fully mediated the relationship between SES and the importance placed on competence, suggesting that high-SES individuals value competence because they see it as central to their identity. However, SSS did not show the same pattern: while those with higher SSS also rated competence as important, they tended to rate all desirable traits higher, suggesting a general response bias rather than a specific preference for competence.
The results of Studies 2a, 2b, and 3 confirmed that social class influences voting preferences even when competence is not explicitly mentioned. Across all studies, participants preferred competent-looking politicians, replicating prior research on facial competence effects. However, this effect was significantly stronger among high-SES voters. Even when controlling for political orientation, warmth, and dominance, competence remained a decisive factor for high-SES participants but was less influential for lower-SES voters. In contrast, SSS did not moderate the effect of competence on voting likelihood, reinforcing the conclusion that objective SES, rather than perceived social standing, determines how much voters rely on competence in decision-making.
A mini meta-analysis of the three experimental studies confirmed that competence had a systematically stronger effect on voting likelihood for high-SES participants, providing robust evidence for the role of social class in shaping political preferences.
All politician images used in the studies featured White men, meaning the findings may not necessarily apply to female or non-White candidates. As well, given the study was conducted in Germany, where economic inequality is lower than in the United States, the effects might be even more pronounced in countries with greater economic disparities.
Overall, these findings suggest that the importance of politicians’ competence is not universal but varies depending on voters’ social class.
The research, “(https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672231181465) Looking Competent Does Not Appeal to All Voters Equally: The Role of Social Class and Politicians’ Facial Appearance for Voting Likelihood,” was authored by Fabienne Unkelbach, Tatjana Brütting, Nina Schilling, and Michaela Wänke.

(https://www.psypost.org/sexual-motives-on-tinder-more-common-in-some-personality-types-than-others/) Sexual motives on Tinder: More common in some personality types than others
Feb 20th 2025, 06:00

A recent study published in the journal (https://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/36677) Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace has shed light on the various reasons why people use the popular dating application Tinder. Researchers discovered that individuals fall into distinct groups based on their personality traits and attitudes towards casual sex, and these groups differ in what they seek to gain from using the app.
The rise of dating applications like Tinder has significantly altered how people connect and form relationships. These apps offer a convenient and accessible way to meet potential partners, and Tinder, with its user-friendly swiping interface, has become one of the most widely used platforms globally. While these applications are often termed “dating” apps, many users are not solely seeking romance. People use Tinder for a variety of reasons, ranging from finding a serious relationship to seeking casual sexual encounters, boosting self-esteem, or simply out of curiosity and entertainment. Understanding these diverse motivations is important, especially when considering the personality characteristics and sexual attitudes of users.
The new study specifically examined the influence of what psychologists call the “Dark Triad” of personality traits, along with a person’s “sociosexual orientation,” on their reasons for using Tinder. The Dark Triad consists of three socially aversive personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Narcissism is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance and a need for admiration. Machiavellianism involves a manipulative and cynical approach to others, prioritizing personal gain. Psychopathy is marked by a lack of empathy, impulsive behavior, and antisocial tendencies.
More recently, researchers have expanded this concept to the “Dark Tetrad” by including sadism, which is the tendency to derive pleasure from inflicting or witnessing pain and suffering in others. These traits are considered “dark” because they are associated with negative social behaviors and outcomes.
Sociosexual orientation, on the other hand, refers to an individual’s attitudes and behaviors related to casual sex. People with an “unrestricted” sociosexual orientation are generally more open to and interested in sexual relationships that are not committed or emotionally intimate.
Researchers were interested in exploring how these personality traits and sexual attitudes might predict why people use Tinder. Previous studies have suggested that individuals with Dark Triad traits are more likely to engage in risky online behaviors and may be more inclined to use dating apps for casual sex rather than for seeking meaningful relationships. By understanding these connections, researchers hope to gain insights into the potential benefits and risks associated with dating app use, and potentially inform efforts to promote safer and more responsible online interactions.
“Our interest in this topic stems from the growing popularity of dating apps like Tinder and their impact on modern relationships,” said study author David Pineda, the director of the Forensic Psychology Unit at Miguel Hernández University of Elche. “While many studies focus on the Big Five personality traits, fewer have explored how the Dark Tetrad traits and sociosexual orientation influence users’ motives. Understanding these connections is crucial because individuals with darker traits may engage in riskier or more manipulative behaviors, which can affect both their experiences and those of others on these platforms.”
The researchers conducted an online survey with 200 participants. The average age of the participants was approximately 31 years old, and the majority (nearly 68%) were women. Participants were recruited through social media and were included in the study if they were over 18 and had used Tinder either currently or in the past. Those who were not current users were asked to reflect on their past Tinder usage.
The survey included several questionnaires designed to measure different aspects of the participants’ personality, sexual attitudes, and Tinder usage. To understand the reasons for using Tinder, the researchers used the Tinder Motives Scale. This scale includes a comprehensive list of 13 different motives for using Tinder, such as seeking romantic relationships, wanting casual sex, looking for social validation, or simply for entertainment. Because a validated Spanish version of this scale was not available, the researchers first translated and adapted the scale for use in Spanish, also creating a shorter, more efficient version of the scale as part of their study.
Participants also completed questionnaires to assess their Dark Tetrad traits and their sociosexual orientation. The Short Dark Triad scale was used to measure narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. The Assessment of Sadistic Personality scale measured levels of sadism. Finally, the Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory was used to assess participants’ attitudes, desires, and behaviors related to unrestricted sex.
In addition to these standardized scales, the survey also included questions about how frequently participants used Tinder and what outcomes they had experienced, such as meeting people in person, forming romantic relationships, having sexual encounters, or making friends.
The researchers used a statistical technique called Latent Profile Analysis to identify different groups of individuals based on their scores on the Dark Tetrad traits and sociosexual orientation measures. This method helps to find patterns in data and categorize people into distinct profiles. After identifying these profiles, the researchers then compared the groups to see if they differed in their reported motives for using Tinder.
The analysis revealed three distinct profiles of Tinder users. “Our study shows that not all Tinder users are motivated by the same goals,” Pineda told PsyPost. “These insights can help users better understand the diverse motivations behind online dating.”
The first group, representing about 41% of the participants, was labeled “Non-dark and non-sociosexual.” Individuals in this profile scored relatively low on all Dark Tetrad traits and also had a less unrestricted sociosexual orientation, meaning they were less inclined towards casual sex.
The second profile, comprising approximately 39% of participants, was named “Slightly narcissistic and sociosexual.” This group showed moderate levels of Machiavellianism and psychopathy, but slightly higher levels of narcissism, and they were more open to casual sex than the first group. In fact, this group had the highest sociosexual orientation scores among the three profiles.
The third and smallest profile, making up about 20% of the sample, was called “High-dark and slightly sociosexual.” This group had the highest scores across all Dark Tetrad traits, particularly psychopathy and sadism. However, their sociosexual orientation was moderate, not as high as the “Slightly narcissistic and sociosexual” group.
When examining the reasons for using Tinder across these profiles, the study found significant differences. The “Non-dark and non-sociosexual” group, those low in dark traits and less interested in casual sex, were more motivated to use Tinder for finding romantic relationships. While all groups expressed some level of interest in romance, this was the strongest motive for this profile.
The “Slightly narcissistic and sociosexual” group, characterized by moderate narcissism and high sociosexual orientation, showed the strongest motivation to use Tinder for sexual purposes. This suggests that individuals with these traits are particularly drawn to Tinder as a platform for seeking casual sexual encounters.
Interestingly, the “High-dark and slightly sociosexual” profile, despite having the highest Dark Tetrad scores, were not primarily driven by sexual motives on Tinder. Instead, their motives were more focused on social approval, being trendy, relieving social pressure, improving social skills, and using the app for distraction or to get over a past relationship.
“One surprising finding was that individuals with the highest scores on the Dark Tetrad traits were not the most motivated by sexual encounters,” Pineda said. “Instead, those with moderate dark traits and higher sociosexuality were more likely to use Tinder for sexual purposes. This suggests that while dark traits can influence dating behaviors, sociosexuality plays a more significant role in driving sexual motivations. Additionally, the high-dark profile was more focused on gaining social approval and coping with social pressure, highlighting a more complex relationship between dark traits and online behavior.”
The researchers noted some limitations to their study. The sample size was relatively small and primarily composed of women, which may limit how broadly the findings can be applied. The study design was also cross-sectional, meaning it captured a snapshot in time and cannot determine cause-and-effect relationships. “Future studies should use larger, more diverse samples and longitudinal designs to explore how these profiles and motivations evolve over time,” Pineda said.
“We aim to further investigate how dark personality traits and sociosexual orientation interact with other psychological variables, such as impulsivity, emotional regulation, and interpersonal trust, in the context of online dating. We also plan to examine how these traits influence users’ behaviors and self-presentation on dating apps, as well as their long-term relationship outcomes. Ultimately, our goal is to provide insights that can help design awareness programs to prevent the misuse of dating apps and promote safer online interactions.”
“Our study underscores the importance of understanding the diverse motivations that drive people to use dating apps like Tinder,” Pineda added. “While these platforms offer opportunities to meet new people, they can also present risks, particularly for users who interact with individuals displaying high dark traits. By identifying different user profiles and their motives, we hope to contribute to the development of strategies that promote more informed and safer use of online dating platforms.”
The study, “(https://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/36677) Unveiling the Depths of Tinder: Decoding the Dark Tetrad and Sociosexuality in Motives Behind Online Dating,” was authored by Pilar Rico-Bordera, Manuel Galán, David Pineda, and José A. Piqueras.

(https://www.psypost.org/exercise-may-boost-brain-function-by-improving-insulin-response-study-suggests/) Exercise may boost brain function by improving insulin response, study suggests
Feb 19th 2025, 16:00

Regular physical activity is widely recognized for its benefits to physical health, including improved heart function and weight management. Now, new research suggests that exercise may also directly enhance brain function. A study published in the journal (https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.14369) Aging Cell has uncovered a potential mechanism for this benefit, showing that exercise activates specific cellular processes in the brain related to insulin, a hormone essential for blood sugar control. This finding indicates that physical activity might improve how brain cells respond to insulin, which could be a key factor in maintaining cognitive health as we age.
“We believe this work is important because it suggests exercise may work to improve cognition and memory by improving the abilities of insulin to act on the brain,” said Steven Malin, an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences and lead author of the study.
To understand this research, it’s helpful to first understand insulin and neuronal extracellular vesicles. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Its primary job is to regulate blood sugar levels, ensuring that our bodies have a steady supply of energy. When we eat, especially foods containing sugars and carbohydrates, our blood sugar levels rise. Insulin helps move this sugar, also known as glucose, from the bloodstream into cells throughout the body, where it can be used for energy or stored for later use. 
This process is known as insulin sensitivity, which refers to how well the body responds to insulin. When someone has high insulin sensitivity, their body effectively uses insulin to manage blood sugar. However, in conditions like prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, cells become less responsive to insulin, a condition called insulin resistance. This can lead to high blood sugar levels and various health problems.
While insulin is primarily known for its role in managing blood sugar in the body, it also plays a significant role in the brain. Insulin can cross from the bloodstream into the brain, where it influences brain regions involved in thinking and memory. When brain cells become less responsive to insulin, it can negatively impact cognitive functions. Researchers are increasingly interested in understanding how to maintain or improve insulin sensitivity in the brain to support healthy brain aging.
Neuronal extracellular vesicles are another key element in this study. These are tiny sacs released by brain cells, specifically neurons. For many years, these vesicles were thought to be just cellular waste, but scientists now recognize them as important communicators between cells. Extracellular vesicles act like miniature delivery trucks, carrying various molecules, such as proteins, from one cell to another. In the context of the brain, neuronal extracellular vesicles can transport proteins involved in insulin signaling. This means that by studying these vesicles, researchers can gain insights into what’s happening inside brain cells related to insulin response, without directly examining the brain itself. 
For this study, the researchers focused on vesicles produced in the brain that carry proteins involved in insulin sensitivity, including a protein called Akt. By analyzing these vesicles in blood samples, scientists hoped to understand how exercise might affect insulin signaling in the brain.
In this study, researchers wanted to see if exercise could improve brain insulin sensitivity by examining neuronal extracellular vesicles. They recruited 21 volunteers, primarily women, with an average age of 60 who were diagnosed with prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. All participants were considered sedentary, meaning they exercised less than 60 minutes per week, and were non-smokers. They underwent medical examinations to ensure they were healthy enough to participate and were not taking medications that could affect blood sugar.
The study was designed as a short-term exercise trial lasting two weeks. Over this period, participants engaged in 12 supervised exercise sessions, each lasting 60 minutes. The exercise was performed on stationary bicycles at a moderate to high intensity. To ensure consistency, all exercise sessions were individually supervised by researchers. Before and after each training session, and at the beginning and end of the two-week training period, participants consumed a glucose drink. This drink was given to stimulate the body’s insulin response.
To measure the effect of exercise on brain insulin signaling, the researchers collected blood samples from the participants. Blood samples were taken at the start of the study and again after the two-week exercise program. Specifically, blood was drawn before the glucose drink and 60 minutes after consuming it. The researchers then used a specialized technique to isolate neuronal extracellular vesicles from the blood samples. This isolation process targeted vesicles specifically originating from neurons by using a marker protein found on the surface of these vesicles. 
Once the vesicles were isolated, the researchers analyzed them for the presence and levels of various proteins involved in insulin signaling. They focused on proteins like Akt, which plays a vital role in how cells respond to insulin. By comparing the levels of these proteins in vesicles collected before and after the exercise program, and before and after the glucose drink, the researchers could assess how exercise affected insulin signaling in brain-derived vesicles.
The analysis of the blood samples revealed that after the two-week exercise program, there was an increase in the number of neuronal extracellular vesicles carrying proteins related to insulin sensitivity. Notably, the amount of the protein Akt within these vesicles increased after each exercise session. This increase was particularly evident after participants consumed the glucose drink, suggesting that exercise enhanced the brain’s insulin response when faced with a rise in blood sugar. In other words, exercise appeared to make brain cells more responsive to insulin signals.
The researchers also observed improvements in the participants’ overall blood sugar control. After the exercise program, participants showed better peripheral insulin sensitivity, meaning their bodies became more effective at using insulin to manage blood sugar. Interestingly, the changes in the Akt protein in the neuronal vesicles were linked to these improvements in blood sugar control and even to a small amount of weight loss experienced by the participants. This suggests a connection between exercise-induced changes in brain insulin signaling and improvements in whole-body metabolic health.
“We showed for the first time that exercise impacts insulin signaling from neuronal extracellular vesicles in relation to clinical improvements in blood sugar,” Malin said. “And we use these neuronal extracellular vesicles as an indicator of brain insulin sensitivity.”
“If insulin is insufficient in the brain, that means not only will brain cells become potentially dysfunctional, but also they may fail to interact with each other properly,” he explained. “It’s like playing the game telephone with a friend. At some point the message gets lost when the brain becomes insulin resistant.”
While this study provides important insights, it is essential to consider its limitations. The study involved a relatively small number of participants, and most were women. Therefore, the findings might not be generalizable to larger, more diverse populations, including men and individuals of different ages or health conditions. Furthermore, the study did not include a control group that did not exercise. While the researchers used the baseline measurements as a comparison, having a non-exercise control group would strengthen the conclusions. Additionally, the study measured changes in proteins within neuronal extracellular vesicles as an indicator of brain insulin sensitivity, but it did not directly measure brain function or cognitive performance.
Future research should build upon these findings by including larger and more diverse groups of participants, incorporating a control group, and examining the effects of different types and durations of exercise. It would also be valuable to investigate how these changes in neuronal extracellular vesicles and brain insulin signaling relate to actual cognitive improvements. Studies that combine blood vesicle analysis with measures of cognitive function and brain imaging would provide a more complete picture of how exercise benefits brain health. Understanding these connections could pave the way for developing more effective exercise strategies to prevent cognitive decline and promote healthy brain aging, especially in individuals at risk for conditions like type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.14369) Two weeks of exercise alters neuronal extracellular vesicle insulin signaling proteins and pro-BDNF in older adults with prediabetes,” was authored by Steven K. Malin, Daniel J. Battillo, Michal S. Beeri, Maja Mustapic, Francheska Delgado-Peraza, and Dimitrios Kapogiannis.

(https://www.psypost.org/unexpected-mental-cycle-found-in-both-buddhist-meditation-and-christian-speaking-in-tongues/) Unexpected mental cycle found in both Buddhist meditation and Christian speaking in tongues
Feb 19th 2025, 14:00

Two spiritual practices that appear vastly different on the surface – the quiet focus of Buddhist jhāna meditation and the emotionally expressive Christian practice of speaking in tongues – may share a common underlying mechanism for achieving deep states of joy and surrender, according to a new study published in (https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.24189) American Journal of Human Biology. Researchers discovered that both practices seem to utilize the same mental feedback loop, which they term the “Attention, Arousal and Release Spiral,” to create profound experiences. This finding suggests a surprising commonality between seemingly disparate spiritual traditions in how humans can cultivate intense focus and emotional release.
Buddhist jhāna meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues are, at first glance, strikingly dissimilar. Jhāna meditation, rooted in Buddhist tradition, is characterized by seated stillness, quiet focus, and an outward appearance of profound calm. Practitioners meticulously train their attention, often focusing on the breath, to achieve deep states of absorption marked by stability, peacefulness, and even bliss. Detailed instructions within Buddhist texts guide this practice. 
In contrast, speaking in tongues, a practice found in charismatic evangelical Christianity, involves uttering sounds that often seem nonsensical, accompanied by expressive behaviors like cries, laughter, and even dancing. This practice is understood by participants as releasing control of their voice to allow the Holy Spirit to guide their prayer. While inspired by brief mentions in the New Testament and largely passed down orally, particularly within the Black Church, speaking in tongues lacks formal written guidelines and is often described as a spontaneous experience.
The research team, led by Michael Lifshitz at McGill University, along with colleagues from other institutions, wanted to explore the hidden similarities between these practices. They were curious about the inner workings of the mind that help people feel such intense joy and a deep sense of release, despite the outward differences in behavior. The researchers believed that both practices might tap into a common mental cycle that brings about states of deep focus and positive emotion.
To examine this idea, the researchers conducted a study involving detailed interviews with both jhāna meditation practitioners and individuals who practice speaking in tongues. For the jhāna meditation group, researchers interviewed ten individuals who had recently completed a ten-day meditation retreat in Georgia, USA. These participants were trained in jhāna meditation by an experienced American Buddhist teacher. The interviews took place in the weeks following the retreat and focused on their experiences during the practice. For the speaking in tongues group, the researchers drew upon data from existing projects. They utilized interviews with 40 charismatic evangelical Christians in the United States from the Mind and Spirit Project, and interviews with 66 individuals from a neurophenomenological study on prayer. These larger projects provided a rich source of first-person accounts of the speaking in tongues experience.
The researchers employed a method called neurophenomenology, which emphasizes the importance of first-person accounts in understanding inner experiences. This approach recognizes that personal descriptions are not just reflections of inner states but also actively shape those experiences. By gathering detailed descriptions of what practitioners experienced during jhāna meditation and speaking in tongues, the researchers aimed to identify common patterns and underlying mechanisms. 
The interviews encouraged participants to describe their experiences in detail, focusing on subtle shifts in their attention, emotions, and sense of control during their respective practices. This focus on the lived experience allowed the researchers to move beyond the surface differences of the two practices and explore potential shared elements at a deeper, experiential level.
The analysis of these interviews revealed a recurring pattern in both jhāna meditation and speaking in tongues, which the researchers termed the Attention, Arousal, and Release Spiral. In jhāna meditation, practitioners focus their attention on a chosen object, such as the breath or a mental image called a nimitta. As concentration deepens, they described how this focused attention leads to feelings of joy and energy. This joy, in turn, seems to reinforce their ability to focus, creating a positive feedback loop. Participants explained that as their attention became more stable on the breath or nimitta, they experienced a diminishing awareness of everyday sensory experiences and thoughts, leading to a profound sense of stillness and steadiness. One participant described this stillness as the disappearance of subtle mental movements, replaced by a deep inner calm.
Crucially, practitioners of jhāna meditation also described a process of “release” that was integral to deepening their meditative state. This release involved multiple aspects, including letting go of distracting thoughts, habitual patterns, and the sense of being in control. They emphasized that intentionally surrendering control of their mental and bodily processes seemed to facilitate relaxation and trust, allowing them to move deeper into the meditative experience. This act of release was not seen as passive but rather as an active yielding, demonstrating faith in the practice and leading to a sense of spacious clarity. Metaphors of “slipping upward” or “sliding into a jacuzzi” were used to describe the experience of entering jhāna, highlighting the effortless and yielding nature of this transition after initial focused effort.
Similarly, in speaking in tongues, practitioners described a process that also involved attention, arousal, and release. They described focusing their attention intensely on God, often accompanied by a sense of passionate devotion and urgency. This focused attention, they reported, often led to heightened emotional and physical arousal, sometimes described as feeling “fire” or “electricity” in their bodies. This arousal was not seen as chaotic but as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Release was also a key component of speaking in tongues. Practitioners described actively surrendering control, particularly of their speech, as they allowed the Holy Spirit to guide their vocalizations. This release of vocal control often extended to emotional and cognitive release as well, with participants describing intense emotional experiences like crying or shaking. This act of surrender was seen as central to the practice, enabling a deeper connection with God and a sense of profound peace amidst the emotional intensity. Interestingly, even within the high arousal of speaking in tongues, practitioners described moments of “utter calm” and stillness, suggesting that the practice could encompass both energized expression and quiet contemplation.
The researchers propose that this shared Attention, Arousal, and Release Spiral operates through a series of interconnected steps. First, focused attention, whether on the breath in meditation or on God in prayer, increases the clarity and vividness of the object of attention. This heightened clarity, in turn, boosts the brain’s confidence in its perception, leading to positive feelings of joy and pleasure associated with the object of focus. Second, these positive feelings then make attention feel more effortless, creating a feedback loop where joy reinforces attention, and attention intensifies joy. Finally, the intention and act of release, of letting go of control, further deepens this cycle. This release, facilitated by the growing ease and joy, allows for even deeper states of absorption in both practices.
While these findings open up a new way of understanding spiritual practice, the researchers are careful to note some limitations of their study. One limitation is that the study relied heavily on personal reports and interviews. Although these accounts provide rich detail about inner experiences, they can be subjective and influenced by cultural expectations. The study also involved a relatively small group of meditators compared to the much larger community of Christians who speak in tongues. This means that more research is needed to see if the findings hold true in other groups or in more diverse settings. Additionally, the brain scanning methods used in this study provide only a snapshot of the brain’s activity, and further studies are needed to understand how these processes develop over time.
Future research will likely focus on using more detailed brain imaging techniques to capture the dynamic changes in brain activity as the cycle of attention, joy, and release unfolds. The researchers are also interested in exploring how these processes might be used to help people cultivate inner peace and well-being in everyday life. 
“If we can understand this process better, we may be able to help more people access deep states of tranquility and bliss for themselves,” said Lifshitz. “In another sense, our findings may help to promote a sense of commonality and mutual respect between spiritual traditions. Despite differences in beliefs, we are all sharing a human experience.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.24189) The Spiral of Attention, Arousal, and Release: A Comparative Phenomenology of Jhāna Meditation and Speaking in Tongues,” was authored by by Josh Brahinsky, Jonas Mago, Mark Miller, Shaila Catherine, and Michael Lifshitz.

(https://www.psypost.org/physical-attractiveness-outweighs-intelligence-in-daughters-and-parents-mate-choices/) Physical attractiveness outweighs intelligence in daughters’ and parents’ mate choices
Feb 19th 2025, 12:00

Women and their parents report that intelligence is more important than physical attractiveness in a long-term partner, yet when forced to choose, they both favor a more attractive mate—even when the less attractive option is described as more intelligent. This study was published in (https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-024-00418-y) Evolutionary Psychological Science.
Parental involvement in daughters’ mate selection is common across cultures, with parents often prioritizing traits linked to long-term stability, such as intelligence and resource acquisition. While both women and their parents rank intelligence as highly desirable, physical attractiveness is typically rated as less important. Most research has relied on self-reported ideal preferences rather than experimental scenarios that require trade-offs between these traits.
Madeleine A. Fugère and colleagues examined whether these stated preferences aligned with actual mate choices when women and their parents faced constrained options.
According to evolutionary theory, attractiveness signals genetic quality, while intelligence suggests resource acquisition potential and investment in offspring. Women generally (https://www.psypost.org/daughters-view-the-physical-attractiveness-of-their-spouses-as-more-important-than-their-parents/) prioritize attractiveness more than their parents, who may de-emphasize it due to concerns about an attractive mate’s long-term stability.
The researchers recruited 201 daughters (ages 18-33) and 187 parents, primarily mothers, from a university community and social media. The study examined both self-reported mate preferences and actual choices under constrained conditions. Participants first rated the importance of traits such as intelligence and physical attractiveness in a long-term partner for themselves (daughters) or for their daughters (parents). They then evaluated potential mates in an experimental scenario that systematically manipulated these traits.
To create the conditions, researchers selected two photographs of men, pre-rated for attractiveness, with one more attractive and the other less so. Each man was paired with either a high or low peer-reported intelligence rating, resulting in four combinations: high attractiveness/high intelligence, high attractiveness/low intelligence, low attractiveness/high intelligence, and low attractiveness/low intelligence. Participants, assigned to one of these conditions, rated the target man’s attractiveness, intelligence, and desirability as a long-term partner.
Finally, participants were shown both men—their assigned target and an alternative from another condition—and asked to choose the better long-term mate for themselves (daughters) or for their daughters (parents), providing written justifications for their choices.
The findings revealed a stark contrast between stated preferences and actual choices. While both daughters and parents initially rated intelligence as more important than attractiveness in an ideal partner, their selections told a different story. The majority of daughters (72.6%) and parents (59.6%) chose the more attractive man, regardless of his intelligence level, suggesting that physical appearance exerts a stronger influence in constrained decisions than individuals consciously recognize.
Daughters and parents largely agreed on their choices (73.8% agreement), but when attractiveness and intelligence were in conflict, they differed in their trade-offs. Daughters favored the more attractive but less intelligent man, whereas parents more often chose the less attractive but more intelligent one, indicating that parents prioritize long-term stability and resource acquisition more than their daughters do.
In open-ended responses, participants justified their choices differently depending on the conditions. When the attractive man was also highly intelligent, intelligence was frequently cited as the deciding factor. However, when the traits were in conflict, daughters emphasized physical appeal, while parents highlighted intelligence.
These findings reveal a gap between self-reported preferences and actual mate choices, showing that physical attractiveness influences selection more than individuals may consciously realize. The study also suggests that parent-offspring conflict in mate selection is less pronounced than expected, as parents and daughters often make similar choices.
One limitation of the study is its reliance on hypothetical mate choices rather than real-life dating or marriage decisions, which may introduce differences in how participants evaluate trade-offs.
The research, “(https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-024-00418-y) The Relative Importance of Attractiveness and Intelligence to the Mate Preferences and Choices of Women and Their Parents,” was authored by Madeleine A. Fugère, Noelle Ciccarelli, Yineli Rodriguez, and Alita J. Cousins.

(https://www.psypost.org/do-your-friends-know-if-youre-ready-for-love-heres-what-the-research-says/) Do your friends know if you’re ready for love? Here’s what the research says
Feb 19th 2025, 10:00

A new study has found that your friends might have a pretty good idea of whether you are truly ready for a serious romantic relationship. Researchers discovered that people and their friends generally agree on how prepared someone is for commitment. Furthermore, the study revealed that friends tend to perceive those who seem anxious or avoidant in relationships as being less ready to settle down. The findings have been published in the (https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075251317920) Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
Past research has shown that friends can influence who we date and how long our relationships last. They might introduce us to potential partners, offer advice, or simply provide support that strengthens our romantic bonds. One factor that is increasingly recognized as important for starting and maintaining relationships is “commitment readiness.” This refers to how prepared someone feels to be in a committed relationship.
The researchers were curious whether our friends can sense our commitment readiness and if their perceptions align with our own. They also wanted to understand if friends’ views on our readiness are related to how we generally approach relationships, specifically our attachment style. Attachment style describes the way we typically connect with others in close relationships and can range from secure to insecure (anxious or avoidant).
“We often have an inner sense of our readiness for committed love, but feeling ready doesn’t guarantee a relationship,” said study author (https://psychology.msu.edu/directory/Hyewon%20Yang.html) Hyewon Yang, a PhD student in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University.
“In fact, friends play a key role in forming and maintaining romantic relationships—from introductions to advice—but there rarely is a chance to know how they perceive us. We were surprised to see that there was no research so far looking into friends’ perceptions of people’s readiness for commitment. Therefore, we conducted this study to examine how friends perceive each other’s readiness for committed love.”
For their study, the researchers recruited 193 groups of four friends, totaling 772 participants. The participants were primarily young adults from the United States, with an average age of around 19. Most identified as women and were predominantly White or Asian. On average, the friends had known each other for about three and a half years. Each person in the group completed online questionnaires individually, rating themselves and each of their three friends on various aspects of relationships.
The questionnaires measured two key constructs: commitment readiness and attachment style. To assess commitment readiness, participants used a brief questionnaire that asked them to rate how ready they and their friends were to be in a committed relationship. For example, they might have been asked to agree or disagree with statements like “[Friend’s Name] is not ready to be in a committed relationship at this time” (with items reverse-scored for consistency).
To measure attachment style, the researchers used a questionnaire that assessed both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Attachment anxiety reflects worry about being abandoned or rejected in relationships, while attachment avoidance describes discomfort with closeness and intimacy. Participants rated themselves and their friends on statements related to these styles, such as “[Friend’s Name] is afraid that other people may abandon them” (anxiety) or “[Friend’s Name] finds it easy to depend on others” (avoidance, reverse-scored).
After collecting all the data, Yang and her colleagues used a statistical technique called the Social Relations Model to analyze the responses. This model is useful for understanding ratings within groups, such as friend groups, as it allows researchers to break down the ratings into different components.
One component was “target variance,” which reflects how much friends generally agree with each other about a particular person. Another component was “perceiver variance,” which indicates if some people tend to rate everyone similarly—for example, if someone generally thinks everyone is ready for commitment. The model also considered “relationship variance,” which shows if ratings are influenced by the unique pairing of friends, and finally “error,” which accounts for random variation. The researchers then examined how these different components related to commitment readiness and attachment styles.
The researchers observed strong agreement among friends about commitment readiness. The target variance for commitment readiness was high, meaning that friends tended to see eye-to-eye on who in their group was more or less ready for a committed relationship. This agreement was stronger for commitment readiness than for attachment anxiety or avoidance, suggesting that readiness might be more easily observable to friends.
“It was very interesting to see that how our friends perceive our readiness for a committed relationship overlapped pretty much with what we think about our readiness,” Yang told PsyPost. “So it may suggest that we are not overly biased about how ready we are for a relationship.”
Yang and her colleagues also found that people who were seen as more anxious or avoidant in their attachment style were also seen as less ready for commitment by their friends. This suggests that friends pick up on cues related to attachment insecurity and link them to someone’s readiness for a serious relationship. In other words, if your friends perceive you as being uneasy about intimacy or worried about rejection, they might also think you are not quite ready to settle down.
Finally, the researchers discovered a phenomenon known as “assumed similarity” in judgments. People who considered themselves ready for commitment were also more likely to perceive their friends as ready too. This finding suggests that our own feelings about commitment readiness can color how we view our friends.
“The three key takeaways are: 1) friends significantly agreed on who was more ready for a committed, long-term relationship, 2) these friends’ perceptions of a person’s readiness were not too different from how that person felt about their own readiness, and 3) those perceived as more insecure in their relationships were also seen as less ready for a committed relationship,” Yang said.
Like all research, this study has some limitations. It only examined perceptions within friend groups, so it would be helpful to know if these findings extend to other types of relationships, such as those with family members or acquaintances. Also, because the study was cross-sectional—done at one point in time—it cannot show cause and effect.
“Our finding that those perceived to be insecurely attached were also seen as less ready for a relationship does not imply causality,” Yang explained. “It could be that perceptions of insecurity guide judgments about readiness, but it could also be that if someone communicates that they are not ready for a relationship, friends may then infer that the person is insecure about relationships.”
Future studies could follow people over time to see if friends’ perceptions of commitment readiness actually predict future relationship outcomes, such as relationship formation or stability. It would also be valuable to explore why friends perceive someone as ready or not ready for commitment—perhaps they are picking up on specific behaviors or communication styles.
“I’d love to do a follow-up with this sample to see if and how those who were perceived as ready by their friends differ from others in future romantic relationships,” Yang said. “Also, the sense of insecurity in a relationship and the feeling of being ready for committed love might change over time. Therefore, it would be interesting to see if growing more confident and secure in a relationship would lead someone to seem more ready for a serious relationship than before.”
“This study is one of the few with a large round-robin design focused on young adult friends. This also means that the findings may offer insights for young adults navigating romance, encouraging open communication with peers and seeking support from them to foster healthy romantic relationships and friendships.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075251317920) Ready (for love) or not? Self and other perceptions of commitment readiness and associations with attachment orientations,” was authored by Hyewon Yang, Rebekka Weidmann, Mariah F. Purol, Robert A. Ackerman, Richard E. Lucas, and William J. Chopik.

Forwarded by:
Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD

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