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<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News Daily Digest (Unofficial)</span></td>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/personalient-individuals-are-happier-due-to-smoother-social-relations/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Personalient individuals are happier due to smoother social relations</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 18th 2025, 08:00</div>
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<p><p>More “personalient” individuals—those with higher levels of the General Factor of Personality (GFP)—are generally happier, according to research published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112924"><em>Personality & Individual Differences</em></a>.</p>
<p>The concept of the General Factor of Personality (GFP) has been likened to the general factor of intelligence (g), as both emerge from analyses of multiple measures within their respective domains. GFP reflects social effectiveness and emotional intelligence, traits that promote smoother interpersonal relationships.</p>
<p>Satoshi Kanazawa proposed that this smoother social interaction aligns with the evolutionary theory of happiness, which posits that human happiness is influenced by ancestral conditions. Individuals with higher GFP, or “personalient” traits, are predicted to experience greater happiness due to their ability to foster better social connections.</p>
<p>Previous studies have shown correlations between GFP and life satisfaction using smaller or geographically restricted samples. However, debates about the validity of GFP as a construct have been ongoing in personality psychology. Kanazawa aimed to provide robust evidence for the relationship between GFP and happiness.</p>
<p>The researcher utilized two large, longitudinal datasets from different populations. The first dataset, the National Child Development Study (NCDS), tracked over 17,000 individuals born in the United Kingdom in 1958. Participants were surveyed at multiple points throughout their lives, providing detailed information on various aspects of their personal and professional experiences.</p>
<p>At age 51, participants completed a personality assessment based on the Big Five personality traits, allowing researchers to calculate their GFP scores through factor analysis. Happiness was measured through self-reports of life satisfaction, which participants rated on a scale of 0 to 10 at several life stages, including ages 33, 42, 47, and 51. The study also included key control variables such as intelligence, education, income, and gender to isolate the effect of GFP on happiness.</p>
<p>The second dataset, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), followed over 20,000 American participants from adolescence into adulthood, beginning in 1994. In this study, GFP was derived at age 29 using a shorter personality inventory, while happiness was measured through a combination of self-reports on how often participants felt happy and their overall life satisfaction at different points in time. These measurements captured happiness and satisfaction across key developmental stages, including adolescence, young adulthood, and middle age.</p>
<p>Both datasets allowed for an examination of how GFP influenced happiness over time, accounting for prior levels of life satisfaction to test whether genetic predispositions or social interactions played a larger role.</p>
<p>The analyses of both datasets revealed a consistent and robust relationship between GFP and happiness. In the NCDS, individuals with higher GFP scores reported significantly greater life satisfaction at all surveyed life stages. Even after controlling for variables such as intelligence, income, education, and prior levels of happiness, GFP remained a strong predictor of happiness. A one-standard-deviation increase in GFP was associated with a 30–60% increase in the likelihood of being in a higher category of life satisfaction. Importantly, the effect of GFP appeared to grow stronger with age, suggesting that the influence of social and interpersonal effectiveness on happiness may accumulate over time.</p>
<p>Similar findings emerged from the Add Health study, where individuals with higher GFP scores reported greater happiness and life satisfaction across different stages of life. Here too, GFP was a stronger predictor of happiness compared to other variables like income or education. Notably, the relationship between GFP and happiness persisted even after accounting for earlier levels of happiness, providing evidence against a purely genetic explanation for the association. Instead, the findings suggested that smoother social and interpersonal interactions in everyday life, facilitated by higher GFP, were the primary drivers of increased happiness.</p>
<p>Together, these results highlighted the importance of GFP as a key factor in understanding individual differences in happiness and life satisfaction.</p>
<p>Of note is that the datasets focused on Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) societies, limiting generalizability of results.</p>
<p>The research, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112924">More personalient people are happier</a>,” was authored by Satoshi Kanazawa.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/cannabis-use-worsens-reduced-brain-connectivity-in-young-adults-at-risk-for-psychosis-study-finds/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Cannabis use worsens reduced brain connectivity in young adults at risk for psychosis, study finds</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 18th 2025, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in <em>JAMA Psychiatry</em> provides evidence that young adults at risk of developing psychosis show reduced brain connectivity, a deficit that cannabis use appears to exacerbate. Researchers at McGill University identified a decrease in synaptic density—connections between neurons—among individuals at high risk for psychosis, compared to a healthy control group. This finding provides insight into how cannabis use may disrupt brain development and offers a potential target for developing treatments for psychosis.</p>
<p>Schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders often emerge during adolescence or early adulthood, periods marked by critical brain development. These conditions are associated with disruptions in synaptic pruning, a natural process where the brain refines and eliminates weak synaptic connections to optimize neural efficiency. Previous studies have hinted at the role of synaptic dysfunction in psychosis, but most evidence has come from indirect methods like postmortem examinations and genetic studies.</p>
<p>Cannabis use has long been linked to an increased risk of psychosis, with frequent users facing a significantly heightened risk. However, the biological mechanisms behind this association remain poorly understood. By directly measuring synaptic density in living participants using advanced imaging techniques, the new study aimed to explore whether synaptic deficits are present in early psychosis and in those at high risk of developing the condition. The researchers also examined whether cannabis use exacerbates these deficits.</p>
<p>“As psychiatrists, we know schizophrenia is one of the most challenging mental health disorders, significantly impacting patients and their families,” said study author M. Belén Blasco, a PhD student at McGill University and member of <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/romina-mizrahi-cats-lab/" target="_blank">Romina Mizrahi’s Clinical & Translational Sciences (CaTS) lab</a>.</p>
<p>“Psychiatry still faces enormous obstacles to provide treatments that enable these individuals to lead fulfilling lives. Evidence suggests that the way connections between neurons form during development may be disrupted in schizophrenia, and we believe studying this is key to advancing prevention in psychiatry.”</p>
<p>The study included 49 participants recruited from the Montreal area, divided into three groups: individuals with a recent diagnosis of psychosis, individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis, and healthy controls. All participants underwent comprehensive medical and psychiatric assessments to ensure they met the study’s inclusion criteria. Participants with psychosis were required to have been diagnosed within the past three years, while those in the high-risk group exhibited prodromal symptoms indicative of potential psychosis development.</p>
<p>Using a specialized imaging technique called positron emission tomography (PET), the researchers measured levels of synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A), a protein found on synaptic vesicles that serves as a marker of synaptic density. This method allowed the team to directly quantify synaptic density in key brain regions linked to psychosis, such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. Participants also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess gray matter microstructure, providing additional insights into how synaptic deficits relate to broader brain changes.</p>
<p>Cannabis use was a specific focus of the study. Participants completed drug screenings, and the researchers examined whether cannabis users showed different patterns of synaptic density compared to non-users. Clinical measures of psychosis symptoms, including both positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations and delusions) and negative symptoms (e.g., social withdrawal and lack of motivation), were also assessed to explore relationships between synaptic deficits and symptom severity.</p>
<p>The researchers observed reductions in synaptic density in both the psychosis and high-risk groups compared to healthy controls. These deficits were particularly pronounced in brain regions like the anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, and striatum—areas critical for cognitive and emotional functioning. Individuals at high risk for psychosis showed lower synaptic density even before the onset of full-blown symptoms, suggesting that these changes may precede the development of psychotic disorders.</p>
<p>Cannabis use was associated with further reductions in synaptic density across the study groups, reinforcing the hypothesis that cannabis disrupts the brain’s natural pruning process. This disruption appears to be most relevant during critical periods of brain maturation, such as adolescence and early adulthood. The study found that cannabis use had the greatest impact on synaptic density in the striatum, a region involved in reward processing and motivation, which could explain its role in psychosis risk.</p>
<p>“Using innovative brain imaging techniques, we measured synaptic density in individuals at early stages of schizophrenia and others at high clinical risk,” Blasco told PsyPost. “Synapses are the connections between neurons that enable communication in the brain. We found that patients in the early stages of schizophrenia and those at high clinical risk showed reduced synaptic density compared to healthy individuals. Cannabis appears to interfere with the brain’s natural process of refining synapses, which is vital for healthy brain development.”</p>
<p>In addition to the observed synaptic deficits, the researchers found that reduced synaptic density was closely linked to negative symptoms of psychosis, such as diminished social engagement and emotional expression. These symptoms, which are notoriously difficult to treat with current medications, may be driven by underlying disruptions in synaptic connectivity. The study did not find a significant relationship between synaptic density and positive symptoms like hallucinations, suggesting that different mechanisms may underlie these symptom domains.</p>
<p>“We observed that reduced synaptic density was linked to symptoms such as social withdrawal and lack of motivation—symptoms that are particularly difficult to treat with current medications,” Blasco explained. “Interestingly, these changes occur early in psychosis, even before the full range of symptoms emerges. This suggests that focusing on synaptic health could lead to new treatments that better address social and motivational challenges.”</p>
<p>But as with all research, there are some caveats. The sample size was relatively small, which is common in PET imaging studies due to the high cost and complexity of the technique. This limits the generalizability of the findings and underscores the need for larger, multicenter studies to confirm these results. Additionally, while the study focused on cannabis use, it did not assess the potential impact of other substances, nor did it explore the effects of different patterns or intensities of cannabis use.</p>
<p>The cross-sectional design of the study also means that it cannot establish causality. For example, it remains unclear whether cannabis use directly causes synaptic deficits or whether individuals with pre-existing vulnerabilities are more likely to use cannabis. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether synaptic density changes predict the onset of psychosis and whether reducing cannabis use can mitigate these changes.</p>
<p>Finally, the researchers acknowledged that SV2A is an indirect marker of synaptic density, and alternative interpretations of their findings are possible. While the use of advanced imaging techniques provides a significant advantage, further validation of these methods is necessary.</p>
<p>The findings offer several promising avenues for future research. Longitudinal studies could track individuals at high risk for psychosis over time to determine whether synaptic density changes predict the transition to full-blown psychosis. Such studies could also explore whether interventions like cannabis cessation or targeted therapies can prevent or reverse synaptic deficits.</p>
<p>Developing treatments that specifically address synaptic dysfunction may also offer new hope for individuals with psychosis, particularly those with severe negative symptoms that are poorly managed by current medications. By targeting the biological mechanisms underlying these symptoms, researchers may be able to improve outcomes and quality of life for individuals with psychotic disorders.</p>
<p>“Not everyone who uses cannabis will develop psychosis, but for some individuals, cannabis appears to disrupt the brain’s natural process of refining synapses, which is essential for healthy brain development,” Blasco noted. “Our study raises the question of whether this disruption might be particularly relevant during critical periods of brain maturation, such as adolescence or early adulthood. Further research is needed to understand why some people are more vulnerable to this process than others.”</p>
<p>“Future research should investigate whether these brain changes can help predict the onset of psychosis, enabling early intervention before more severe symptoms appear. Understanding the role of factors like cannabis use or stress in synaptic health will be key to prevention. Additionally, developing new medications targeting synaptic density could fill crucial gaps in current treatments.”</p>
<p>“Our study would not have been possible without the help from the staff at the Montreal Neurological Institute (Dr. Gassan Massarweh, Dr. Jean-Paul Soucy, Chris Hsiao) and the exceptional team at the psychiatric emergency service of the Douglas Hospital (Dr. Cohen),” Blasco added. “We also thank CIHR for funding the study, and the organizations supporting the lead student (FRQS, Stratas Foundation, and Dolansky Foundation).”</p>
<p>The study, “Synaptic Density in Early Stages of Psychosis and Clinical High Risk,” was authored by M. Belen Blasco, Kankana Nisha Aji, Christian Ramos-Jiménez, Ilana Ruth Leppert, Christine Lucas Tardif, Johan Cohen, Pablo M. Rusjan, and Romina Mizrahi.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/fitspiration-images-harm-body-image-while-body-positive-content-benefits-both-women-and-men/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Fitspiration images harm body image, while body positive content benefits both women and men</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 17th 2025, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>Viewing body-positive social media content, especially images, led to improved body image outcomes compared to fitspiration content, according to a study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-024-01553-3"><em>Sex Roles</em></a>.</p>
<p>Body image—our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors concerning our appearance—develops in a sociocultural context. Research highlights how gendered beauty standards disproportionately affect women, emphasizing thinness and linking appearance to worth. Social media plays a significant role, with platforms like Instagram promoting both “fitspiration” (fitness inspiration) content and body-positive messaging.</p>
<p>Rachel F. Rodgers and colleagues examined the relative impact of body-positive versus fitspiration content on body image in both men and women, addressing the gap in research regarding men’s experiences with body-positive messaging.</p>
<p>The researchers recruited 509 women and 489 men aged 18-25, who were fluent in English, regular users of social media, and had corrected vision. Before the experiment, participants completed baseline measures of state appearance satisfaction and body appreciation, which assessed how they felt about their bodies in the moment. Participants were then randomly assigned to one of five experimental conditions, each representing a distinct type of social media content: body-positive images, body-positive quotes, fitspiration images, fitspiration quotes, or travel images as a neutral control.</p>
<p>The content for women and men was curated to align with their respective beauty standards, such as thin and toned bodies for women and hypermuscular physiques for men. Images and quotes were sourced from Instagram using hashtags relevant to each condition. Each participant viewed 10 posts that matched their assigned condition.</p>
<p>To engage participants with the content, the researchers asked them to answer questions about whether they found the posts relatable or appealing, whether they would typically encounter similar content on social media, and whether they would like such posts. After exposure to the content, participants completed post-exposure measures of state appearance satisfaction, body appreciation, and additional variables, such as appearance comparisons and aspirations. To account for differences in body size, the study controlled for participants’ body mass index (BMI) during data analysis.</p>
<p>Manipulation checks verified that fitspiration content was perceived as promoting fitness and muscularity, while body-positive content was seen as encouraging diverse beauty ideals.</p>
<p>Rodgers and colleagues found that exposure to body-positive content had a more beneficial impact on body image than fitspiration content, with the effects varying across genders and content formats. Among both women and men, viewing fitspiration images led to decreases in state appearance satisfaction and body appreciation compared to body-positive images, body-positive quotes, and travel images.</p>
<p>The negative effects of fitspiration content were consistent regardless of whether it was presented as images or text. On the other hand, body-positive content, especially images, consistently improved body image outcomes, with men experiencing more pronounced benefits.</p>
<p>For women, body-positive images were associated with higher body appreciation compared to fitspiration images, but differences between body-positive images and quotes were not statistically significant. Men, however, showed greater improvements in both appearance satisfaction and body appreciation when exposed to body-positive quotes compared to fitspiration images. Interestingly, men also responded more positively to body-positive images than fitspiration quotes, suggesting a broader benefit of body-positive content for this group.</p>
<p>Although the researchers hypothesized that appearance comparisons would mediate the effects of content exposure, this mechanism was not supported by the data. However, partial support emerged for appearance aspirations, particularly in the body-positive conditions, where participants reported feeling inspired to embrace their appearance.</p>
<p>The findings emphasize the importance of fostering inclusive and empowering social media environments, especially for younger audiences navigating appearance-related pressures.</p>
<p>The study’s reliance on short exposure times and limited diversity in stimuli may have reduced the generalizability of findings.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-024-01553-3">Do Images Speak Louder Than Words? Effects of Body Positive and Fitspiration Quotes and Images on State Body Image in Women and Men</a>,” was authored by Rachel F. Rodgers, Susan J. Paxton, and Eleanor H. Wertheim.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/does-tiktok-really-cause-brain-rot-new-study-links-short-video-addiction-to-brain-abnormalities/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Does TikTok really cause brain rot? New study links short video addiction to brain abnormalities</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 17th 2025, 12:15</div>
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<p><p>Recent research published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121029" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NeuroImage</a></em> has shed light on how compulsive use of short video platforms, such as TikTok, might affect the brain. The study found that individuals with higher levels of short video addiction displayed increased brain activity in regions linked to emotional regulation and reward processing. Moreover, these users showed structural differences in areas such as the orbitofrontal cortex and cerebellum.</p>
<p>The rapid rise in popularity of platforms like <a href="https://www.psypost.org/tiktok-leads-as-the-most-popular-platform-among-underage-users-research-reveals/">TikTok</a> and Instagram Reels has sparked concerns about their impact on mental health and behavior. Often humorously referred to as “brain rot,” excessive use of these platforms is seen as <a href="https://www.psypost.org/the-disturbing-impact-of-exposure-to-8-minutes-of-tiktok-videos-revealed-in-new-study/">potentially harmful</a> to cognitive sharpness and emotional well-being.</p>
<p>Short video addiction is characterized by the compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of brief, personalized video content. This behavioral pattern has been <a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-study-unpacks-the-impact-of-tiktok-and-short-video-apps-on-adolescent-well-being/">linked to negative</a> physical, psychological, and social outcomes, including <a href="https://www.psypost.org/adolescents-addicted-to-short-form-videos-tend-to-have-more-sleep-problems-and-social-anxiety/">disrupted sleep patterns</a>, emotional dysregulation, and impairments in attention and memory. The fast-paced, highly stimulating nature of short videos may contribute to a reduced attention span and hinder the brain’s ability to focus on more demanding or meaningful tasks, intensifying concerns about their long-term effects on users’ cognitive and emotional health</p>
<p>While the <a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-research-explores-why-college-students-overuse-short-video-platforms/">behavioral consequences</a> of short video addiction are increasingly recognized, the underlying neural and biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. To address this gap, researchers from Tianjin Normal University in China conducted a pioneering study. Their goal was to investigate how short video addiction might reshape the brain and to identify specific genes that could influence susceptibility to this behavioral pattern.</p>
<p>Additionally, personality traits such as dispositional envy, which drives negative emotions in response to social comparisons, have been linked to excessive social media use. The researchers were interested in whether envy might serve as a psychological risk factor for addiction to short video platforms, given their emphasis on curated, aspirational content.</p>
<p>The study involved 111 college students aged 17 to 30, all of whom were regular users of short video platforms like TikTok. Participants were carefully screened to exclude those with a history of neurological or psychiatric disorders, ensuring that the findings would be attributable to the behavioral effects of short video consumption rather than pre-existing conditions.</p>
<p>To measure short video addiction, researchers adapted a widely used scale by replacing references to smartphones with short video platforms. Dispositional envy was measured using a standard tool that captures individuals’ tendencies to feel resentment or distress when comparing themselves to others.</p>
<p>To explore the neurological aspects of short video addiction, the researchers collected high-resolution brain imaging data using MRI scans. These scans provided insights into two key areas: structural changes in the brain, such as differences in gray matter volume, and functional activity, specifically regional homogeneity, which measures the synchronization of neural activity within a given area. Statistical techniques were then used to analyze how these brain characteristics correlated with participants’ levels of short video addiction.</p>
<p>Finally, to investigate the biological basis of these findings, the team conducted a transcriptomic analysis, integrating gene expression data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. This allowed them to identify specific genes associated with the brain changes observed in participants with higher levels of short video addiction.</p>
<p>The researchers observed structural and functional differences in the brains of individuals with higher levels of short video addiction. Structurally, these individuals exhibited increased gray matter volume in the orbitofrontal cortex and cerebellum. a region involved in reward processing, decision-making, and emotional regulation. The increased volume in this area suggests heightened sensitivity to the rewards provided by personalized short video content, potentially reinforcing compulsive viewing behavior. Similarly, changes in the cerebellum, traditionally associated with motor control but increasingly recognized for its role in cognitive and emotional processing, were linked to the sensory-rich, dynamic nature of short videos.</p>
<p>Functionally, the researchers observed heightened neural activity in several regions, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, temporal pole, and cerebellum. These areas are involved in decision-making, self-referential thinking, and emotional regulation. The increased activity in these regions suggests that short video addiction might affect both the brain’s reward system and its ability to regulate attention and emotions. For instance, heightened activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may reflect impaired cognitive control, while the posterior cingulate cortex’s involvement points to overactive self-referential processes, such as constant comparison with others seen in short videos.</p>
<p>The study also highlighted the role of dispositional envy as a psychological factor linked to short video addiction. Participants with higher levels of envy were more likely to report compulsive use of short video platforms. This connection was mediated by changes in specific brain regions, such as the cerebellum and temporal pole, which are involved in processing social and emotional information. These findings suggest that individuals prone to envy may turn to short video platforms to cope with feelings of inadequacy.</p>
<p>On a genetic level, the researchers identified over 500 genes associated with the brain changes linked to short video addiction. These genes were primarily involved in synaptic signaling and neural connectivity, processes essential for brain communication and plasticity. Notably, many of these genes were expressed during adolescence, a critical period for brain development. This finding highlights adolescence as a particularly vulnerable time for developing behavioral patterns like short video addiction.</p>
<p>While the study provides important insights, there are some limitations to consider. For example, the study’s cross-sectional design means that it cannot establish causation—it’s unclear whether brain changes lead to addiction or are a consequence of it. Future longitudinal research could clarify these relationships.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121029" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Neuroanatomical and functional substrates of the short video addiction and its association with brain transcriptomic and cellular architecture</a>,” was authored by Yuanyuan Gao, Ying Hu, Jinlian Wang, Chang Liu, Hohjin Im, Weipeng Jin, Wenwei Zhu, Wei Ge, Guang Zhao, Qiong Yao, Pinchun Wang, Manman Zhang, Xin Niu, Qinghua He, and Qiang Wang.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/heightened-psychopathy-cynicism-and-threat-perception-linked-to-harassment-of-scientists/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Heightened psychopathy, cynicism, and threat perception linked to harassment of scientists</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 17th 2025, 12:00</div>
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<p><p>A recent study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-85208-7"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a> provides insight into why some individuals engage in harassment of scientists. The research identifies science cynicism as a significant driver of harassment. The study also highlights that individuals with dark personality traits, including narcissism and psychopathy, and those who perceive scientists as threatening, are more likely to approve of harassment.</p>
<p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, many scientists faced harassment. Reports indicated that a significant number of scientists working on pandemic-related research experienced verbal abuse, threats, and even physical attacks. For instance, one Dutch virologist narrowly escaped a mob attack in a high-profile incident in Amsterdam.</p>
<p>While public mistrust of science is well-documented, the specific factors contributing to harassment had not been thoroughly explored. The new research aimed to identify which worldviews, risk factors, and personality traits might predict approval of or engagement in harmful behaviors toward scientists.</p>
<p>“The harassment of scientists is an alarming yet under-researched phenomenon,” said study author <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Vl56w7EAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vukašin Gligorić</a>, a PhD candidate in social psychology at the <a href="https://www.uva.nl/en/profile/g/l/v.gligoric/v.gligoric.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Amsterdam</a>. “My interest in this topic grew after reading <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/overwhelmed-hate-covid-19-scientists-face-avalanche-abuse-survey-shows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a report on a survey in <em>Science</em></a>, which revealed that 38% of scientists surveyed had experienced some form of attack. This number was shocking and highlighted how widespread the issue is.</p>
<p>“However, harassment is not limited to COVID-19 researchers but extends to scientists across various fields. Personally, I have also experienced harassment, which further motivated me to explore the systemic and individual factors driving this troubling behavior.”</p>
<p>The researchers conducted two studies to explore the factors that predict harassment of scientists. In the first study, they recruited 413 participants through social media platforms, aiming to capture a diverse sample in terms of age, education, and nationality. The participants, predominantly from the United States and the Netherlands, completed a series of questionnaires assessing their worldviews, such as religiosity, spirituality, political ideology, conspiracy beliefs, and science cynicism. They also measured radicalization risk factors, including perceptions of threat (symbolic and realistic) and feelings of relative deprivation.</p>
<p>To gauge participants’ attitudes toward harassment, the researchers presented ten scenarios involving harmful behaviors against scientists, such as insults and death threats, and asked participants to rate their approval. Additionally, participants engaged in a behavioral task, the Voodoo Doll Task, where they could express aggression by inserting pins into a doll representing a stereotypical scientist.</p>
<p>The researchers found that specific worldviews and perceptions were closely tied to the approval of harassment toward scientists. Science cynicism—the belief that scientists are incompetent, self-serving, and untrustworthy—was a significant factor. Conspiracy beliefs, which involve the conviction that events are secretly orchestrated by powerful and malevolent groups, were also linked to harassment approval. Science populism, a perspective that pits ordinary people against what is perceived as a corrupt and disconnected scientific elite, further contributed to attitudes approving harassment.</p>
<p>Among the studied factors, the perception of threat was the most influential. Participants who viewed scientists as threatening their personal safety, economic well-being, or societal values were significantly more likely to approve of harassment. This included both realistic threats, such as concerns about physical harm or financial stability, and symbolic threats, like the belief that scientists undermine cultural traditions or individual freedoms.</p>
<p>The behavioral measure, which involved participants inserting pins into a voodoo doll representing a scientist, provided a way to observe aggression indirectly. However, this measure showed only a weak correlation with the predictors mentioned above. This suggests that while attitudes toward harassment and the underlying worldviews are strongly linked, they do not necessarily translate into direct expressions of aggression.</p>
<p>The second study aimed to expand on these findings by including measures of personality traits, specifically the dark triad: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Gligorić and his colleagues recruited 336 participants through an online platform, focusing again on diverse demographics. Participants completed the same worldview and radicalization measures as in Study 1, along with additional assessments for the dark triad. Behavioral measures were modified to include two new tasks: participants could donate money to a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting scientists or sign a petition advocating against harassment of scientists. These tasks provided an opportunity to observe participants’ support for scientists in real-world contexts.</p>
<p>The findings from Study 2 reinforced the role of science cynicism and threat perception in shaping harassment-related attitudes. In addition, personality traits played a significant role, with psychopathy and narcissism associated with greater approval of harassment.</p>
<p>However, the behavioral measures presented a more nuanced picture. While science cynicism was consistently linked to less supportive behavior, such as refusing to donate or sign the petition, the overall relationship between attitudes and behaviors remained weak. This suggested that while attitudes might reflect underlying tendencies, situational and social factors could influence whether individuals act on these attitudes.</p>
<p>Together, the two studies demonstrated that mistrust of scientists, feelings of threat, and certain personality traits contribute to approval of harassment. However, the researchers also highlighted the gap between attitudes and behaviors, emphasizing the need for future research to better understand the conditions under which these attitudes translate into harmful actions.</p>
<p>“An important takeaway is that most people do not support the harassment of scientists,” Gligorić told PsyPost. “In our study, we found very low levels of approval for such behavior. However, among the minority who do, certain factors stand out. People who are cynical about science—believing scientists to be corrupt and incompetent—are more likely to approve of or engage in harassment. This highlights how societal narratives, particularly those fueled by mistrust and misinformation, can contribute to harmful behaviors. Addressing these misconceptions and fostering trust in science is crucial to mitigating this issue.”</p>
<p>But as with all research, there are limitations to consider.</p>
<p>“One major caveat is that our study focused on Western contexts,” Gligorić noted. “Like most other studies in the field (conducted primarily in Western Europe and the United States), this limits our understanding of how these dynamics play out in other parts of the world. Another limitation is the potential for selection bias. People who strongly dislike or distrust scientists may have been less likely to participate in our research, which means our findings may underestimate the extent of anti-science attitudes and behaviors.”</p>
<p>Looking forward, “I want to delve deeper into the role of political ideology in shaping attitudes toward science and scientists,” Gligorić said. “Our exploratory analyses suggest that individuals on the political right tend to be more cynical about scientists, which drives harassment. We want to explore these ideas further in collaboration with colleagues from NYU (primarily Professor John Jost). This would bring us to a better understanding of how ideological, psychological, and societal factors intersect to influence trust in science and public behavior toward scientists.”</p>
<p>“Finally, it’s important to consider the broader societal factors, such as neoliberal capitalism, which breeds individualism, frustration, and social inequalities. These conditions likely exacerbate the cynicism and mistrust that drive harassment.”</p>
<p>“Harassment of scientists is not just a personal issue but a societal one,” Gligorić added. “It reflects broader cultural and systemic factors, including rising inequality, misinformation, and mistrust possibly fueled by neoliberalism. Addressing this problem requires a multifaceted approach, including better science communication, systemic reforms to reduce inequality, and a focus on societal trust-building. I hope this study inspires more research and action to protect scientists and their essential work.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85208-7">The role of worldviews, radicalization risk factors, and personality in harassment of scientists</a>,” was authored by Vukašin Gligorić, Carlotta Reinhardt, Ella Nieuwenhuijzen, Josha Orobio de Castro, Allard R. Feddes, Gerben A. van Kleef, and Bastiaan T. Rutjens.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/self-guided-vr-therapy-shows-promise-for-managing-social-anxiety/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Self-guided VR therapy shows promise for managing social anxiety</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 17th 2025, 10:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.10.032"><em>Journal of Psychiatric Research</em></a> has found that a self-guided virtual reality app could significantly reduce symptoms of social anxiety. The research tested the <em>oVRcome</em> mobile application, demonstrating its effectiveness in helping participants manage their fears and improve their quality of life.</p>
<p>Social anxiety disorder is a debilitating condition characterized by an intense fear of social interactions and judgment. While proven therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy exist, they can be costly, require access to a limited number of trained professionals, and often carry stigma. These hurdles leave many individuals with minimal or no treatment, exacerbating the impact of the disorder.</p>
<p>Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool in mental health, particularly for anxiety-related conditions. By immersing individuals in realistic scenarios, VR enables safe and controlled exposure therapy, which is a key component of cognitive behavioral therapy. However, VR-based treatments are still limited and the implementation of such treatments vary across research studies.</p>
<p>Led by Cameron Lacey from the University of Otago in New Zealand, the research team wanted to explore whether a self-guided app, <em>oVRcome</em>, could bridge this gap. The app was combined with an affordable head-mounted device which held a smartphone and delivered 360 degree video experiences.</p>
<p>Lacey and colleagues first recruited 126 adults (98 females, 28 males) diagnosed with moderate to severe social anxiety, with an average age of 35 years.</p>
<p>Participants used the <em>oVRcome</em> app for six weeks, completing modules that combined VR scenarios with techniques to manage anxiety, such as breathing exercises and thought reframing. The app also provided educational content, including discussions on the rationale behind exposure therapy.</p>
<p>The app required no professional intervention, relying instead on self-guided progress through structured modules.</p>
<p>The results were striking. By the end of the six-week trial, participants using the app saw their social anxiety scores drop by an average of 35 points. This was a significant improvement compared to the control group of individuals who were put on a waitlist for treatment, and showed minimal change.</p>
<p>Importantly, these benefits were sustained in follow-ups conducted at 12 and 18 weeks.</p>
<p>The authors also highlighted the app’s ease of use and safety. Participants experienced minimal side effects, with only mild motion sickness reported in some cases, but no participant withdrew from the study because of nausea.</p>
<p>However, the study is not without limitations. All measures were self-reported, and participants were recruited from a single country, raising questions about the findings’ generalizability.</p>
<p>“This is the largest VR for social anxiety disorder study completed to date. Importantly, our trial extends these findings by utilizing low-cost VR equipment without therapist facilitation, thereby addressing concerns regarding the accessibility and affordability of VR therapy for individuals with social anxiety disorder,” the authors concluded.</p>
<p>As the next step, the team plans to investigate how integrating such tools into clinical pathways might further improve access and outcomes for individuals with social anxiety.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395624006174">A Self-Guided Virtual Reality Solution for Social Anxiety: Results from a Randomized Controlled Study</a>,” was authored by Cameron Lacey, Chris Frampton, and Ben Beaglehole.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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