<table style="border:1px solid #adadad; background-color: #F3F1EC; color: #666666; padding:8px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; line-height:16px; margin-bottom:6px;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News Daily Digest (Unofficial)</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/paranoia-and-teleological-thinking-tied-to-social-hallucinations-in-vision/" 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;">Paranoia and teleological thinking tied to “social hallucinations” in vision</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 31st 2025, 08:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>New research suggests that paranoia and excessive teleological thinking—two forms of distorted beliefs about intention—are associated with specific errors in visual perception. The findings, published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44271-024-00163-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Communications Psychology</a></em>, indicate that individuals with high levels of paranoia are more likely to misperceive non-threatening movements as chasing, while those with strong teleological thinking tendencies struggle to accurately identify agents in social scenarios. The results suggest a link between these cognitive distortions and basic visual processes.</p>
<p>People frequently attribute intentions to others, even in ambiguous situations. This tendency extends beyond human interaction, as individuals can perceive intention in the movements of simple shapes. The classic example is the Heider-Simmel animation, in which geometric figures appear to chase, evade, and interact with one another, even though their movements are entirely pre-programmed.</p>
<p>Previous research has suggested that the rapid detection of agency and intention is an essential function of human vision, allowing people to react quickly to potential threats. However, when this ability becomes exaggerated or distorted, it may contribute to mental health conditions such as paranoia, which involves an excessive belief that others have harmful intentions. Similarly, excessive teleological thinking—the tendency to attribute purpose to events that lack clear intentionality—has been linked to various cognitive biases and belief systems, including conspiracy thinking.</p>
<p>The researchers sought to determine whether these higher-level cognitive distortions could be traced back to fundamental perceptual processes. Specifically, they examined whether individuals with paranoia and excess teleological thinking were more likely to misinterpret visual cues related to agency and intention, leading to what they termed “social hallucinations.”</p>
<p>“My lab studies psychosis – delusions and hallucinations – which are the profound departures from consensus reality that characterize serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, but which also exist in milder forms in the broader, general, population,” said study author Philip R. Corlett, an associate professor of psychiatry and psychology, a member of the Wu Tsai Institute and the director of <a href="https://belieflab.yale.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Belief, Learning, and Memory Lab</a>.</p>
<p>“We try to understand the mechanisms that make people think that their neighbors are spying on them, for example. Furthermore, we want to know why they might draw that particular conclusion versus a different one. Placing these symptoms in the perceptual or cognitive domains has implications for how we understand and treat psychotic symptoms and also what we think about how minds and brains work.”</p>
<p>The researchers conducted a series of four studies with a total of 623 participants. They used an experimental paradigm in which participants watched displays of moving discs and had to determine whether one disc (the “wolf”) was chasing another (the “sheep”). This allowed the researchers to measure perceptual errors related to the detection of chasing behavior.</p>
<p>In the first two studies, participants simply judged whether a chase was occurring. The researchers manipulated the movement patterns of the discs to create ambiguous situations in which no actual chase was present. False alarms—instances where participants incorrectly perceived chasing when none was occurring—were used as indicators of social hallucinations.</p>
<p>In the third and fourth studies, participants had to identify which disc was the “wolf” and which was the “sheep.” This allowed the researchers to assess whether paranoia and teleological thinking were associated with specific impairments in role attribution. Participants also rated their confidence in their decisions, which provided insight into the extent to which they believed in their misperceptions.</p>
<p>Alongside the behavioral task, participants completed questionnaires assessing paranoia, teleological thinking, and self-reported hallucinatory experiences. These measures helped the researchers examine how perceptual errors correlated with broader cognitive tendencies.</p>
<p>The results showed distinct patterns of perceptual errors associated with paranoia and teleological thinking. Individuals with high levels of paranoia were more likely to falsely perceive chasing when none was present. This suggests that paranoia may involve an exaggerated sensitivity to potential threats, even at the level of basic visual processing. Notably, these participants were particularly poor at identifying the “sheep” in the chasing displays, which may reflect difficulty in recognizing non-threatening agents.</p>
<p>In contrast, individuals with high levels of teleological thinking were more likely to struggle with identifying the “wolf”—the agent that was supposedly pursuing the other disc. This suggests that excessive teleological thinking may involve a different kind of misperception, possibly related to difficulties in distinguishing between intentional and unintentional movement.</p>
<p>Both paranoia and teleological thinking were linked to a tendency to make high-confidence errors. Participants who exhibited these cognitive tendencies were often certain about their incorrect judgments, suggesting that their perceptual distortions were deeply ingrained. Additionally, these errors correlated with self-reported hallucinatory experiences, reinforcing the idea that the misattribution of agency in vision may be linked to broader tendencies toward perceptual distortions.</p>
<p>“People with unusual beliefs about other people and the sorts of things that cause events to happen in the world may actually see the world differently,” Corlett told PsyPost. “They see intentional actions where others don’t and they have these experiences with high confidence – which is why we term them social hallucinations.”</p>
<p>Although the findings provide strong evidence that paranoia and excessive teleological thinking are linked to specific perceptual biases, the study has some limitations. One major question is whether these distortions originate in low-level visual processing or are instead the result of top-down influences, where pre-existing beliefs shape perception. Future research could explore this question using neuroimaging techniques to examine the neural basis of these perceptual errors.</p>
<p>Another limitation is that the study focused on non-clinical populations. While the results suggest potential links between perceptual distortions and psychiatric symptoms, further research is needed to determine whether these findings apply to individuals with diagnosed psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.</p>
<p>“We need to test these ideas in people with schizophrenia – who have more severe hallucinations- to see if they can be practically useful in the clinic,” Corlett said. “We’d like to develop this game into an eye test for psychosis. It could be useful in identifying people at risk, or people whose symptoms might be worsening.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00163-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paranoid and teleological thinking give rise to distinct social hallucinations in vision</a>,” was authored by Santiago Castiello, Joan Danielle K. Ongchoco, Benjamin van Buren, Brian J. Scholl, and Philip R. Corlett.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/romantic-age-gaps-evolve-over-time-new-psychology-research-shows/" 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;">Romantic age gaps evolve over time, new psychology research shows</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 31st 2025, 06:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A new study published in <em><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pere.12579" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Personal Relationships</a></em> provides insight into how the age gap between romantic partners changes when people enter relationships at different life stages. Researchers analyzed data from 29 countries and found that as men grow older, they are more likely to form relationships with younger partners. Women exhibit a similar but weaker trend. These findings suggest that age-related preferences in romantic relationships evolve over time, potentially due to a combination of biological and social influences.</p>
<p>Understanding how age preferences shift in relationships is important for studying romantic dynamics, particularly in later life. While previous research has extensively examined gender differences in partner age preferences, most studies have focused on younger populations. However, as life expectancy increases and people form new relationships later in life due to divorce or widowhood, it becomes increasingly relevant to explore how these preferences evolve over time.</p>
<p>Past studies have consistently shown that men tend to prefer younger partners, whereas women prefer slightly older ones. However, the extent to which these preferences change over time has remained unclear. Some researchers have suggested that men’s preference for younger women is driven by evolutionary factors related to reproductive potential, while women may prioritize financial stability and social status when selecting a partner. At the same time, sociocultural influences, such as shifting gender roles and caregiving expectations, may shape these patterns. By analyzing a large international dataset, the researchers aimed to clarify whether these trends are consistent across different cultures and whether they change as people enter relationships at older ages.</p>
<p>“The nature of close relationships of people in higher age is a topic we focus on in our research lab,” said study author Jaroslav Gottfried, a postdoctoral researcher at the University College Dublin. “One reason is that while intimate relationships are often studied in young and adult people, this topic has been neglected in research and public communications until approximately the last two decades. By describing the trends in people forming intimate relationships in higher age, we hope to better understand the changes in their preferences and lifestyle. This knowledge could help to tackle the issues of lower wellbeing or loneliness in people in higher age.”</p>
<p>The researchers used data from <a href="https://share-eric.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)</a>, which collects information from individuals aged 50 and older across 28 European countries and Israel. The study focused on individuals who were currently in long-term relationships and excluded cases where information about the relationship start date was unavailable.</p>
<p>The final sample included nearly 36,000 individuals, with an equal gender distribution. The participants reported their own age, their partner’s age, and the year their relationship began. By analyzing the relationship start date, the researchers were able to assess how age preferences shaped partner choice at the time of relationship formation, rather than simply comparing age differences in long-term couples.</p>
<p>The study found that the age gap between romantic partners is not fixed but systematically shifts based on the age at which people enter relationships. For men, the trend was particularly pronounced: younger men tended to partner with women about three years younger, but as they aged, their partners became progressively younger. By the time men reached older adulthood, the age gap had widened significantly, with some older men forming relationships with women nearly a decade younger.</p>
<p>Women, on the other hand, followed a different trajectory. Younger women typically partnered with men who were a few years older, consistent with traditional gendered age norms. However, as women aged, this preference shifted. By around age 60, women were no longer seeking older partners and instead formed relationships with men of similar age. This trend suggests that women’s preferences become less influenced by traditional norms as they age, possibly due to changing priorities, social dynamics, and the realities of the dating market.</p>
<p>The findings align with both evolutionary and sociocultural explanations. Evolutionary theories suggest that men’s preference for younger partners may stem from reproductive motives, as youth is associated with fertility. However, this does not fully explain why older men continue to prefer significantly younger partners even when reproduction is no longer a consideration. Some researchers suggest that this preference may be tied to social status, as having a younger partner can signal prestige. Women’s shifting preferences, on the other hand, may reflect changing social needs and priorities. As they age, women may prioritize companionship, shared life experiences, and avoiding caregiving responsibilities, leading them to seek same-aged partners.</p>
<p>Another factor influencing these trends is the gender imbalance in the dating pool. Because women tend to live longer than men, older women may have fewer options when searching for an older partner. As a result, they may be more open to forming relationships with younger men, leading to the observed shift in preferences.</p>
<p>“On average, there is a stable trend in older men coupling with progressively younger women,” Gottfried told PsyPost. “That means that most men couple with women a couple of years younger than themselves, but at a higher age, this age difference between them and their newfound partner usually grows. A slightly weaker trend also applies for women, in general. Although most women couple with men a couple years older than themselves, the age difference gradually diminishes as women grow older, and women older than 60 years tend to find themselves a partner who is more or less the same age as them. Dating market availability and also possible changes in partner preferences (e.g. potential healthcare issues associated with dating a person in high age) can explain this slow shift towards preferring progressively younger partners as people age.”</p>
<p>Although the study provides important insights into how age preferences shift over time, it has some limitations. One key limitation is that it focuses only on age differences in long-term relationships rather than examining ideal partner preferences. This means that while the study shows who people actually form relationships with, it does not measure what their preferences might be in hypothetical scenarios.</p>
<p>Additionally, the dataset only includes participants from European countries and Israel, which limits the generalizability of the findings to other cultural contexts. In societies with different social norms or economic conditions, patterns of age preferences may vary. Future research could explore how these trends play out in different regions of the world.</p>
<p>Moreover, the study does not directly measure socioeconomic status at the time of relationship formation. While socioeconomic factors likely play a role in shaping partner preferences, the dataset did not include sufficient information to analyze this variable in depth. Future research could examine whether men with higher socioeconomic status are more likely to form relationships with significantly younger women, as some theories suggest.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12579" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Couples age discrepancies in a large-scale European sample: Evolutionary and sociocultural perspectives</a>,” was authored by Jaroslav Gottfried, Anna Ševčíková, Lukas Blinka, Andrea Lambert South.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/study-finds-strong-link-between-cultural-femininity-and-electric-vehicle-market-share/" 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;">Study finds strong link between cultural femininity and electric vehicle market share</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 30th 2025, 16:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A study published in <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214367X23000443" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Travel Behaviour and Society</a></em> explores the role of gender associations in the adoption of electric vehicles. The research finds that countries with a more feminine cultural orientation tend to have higher rates of electric vehicle adoption. Additionally, a psychological test conducted in Germany shows that consumers, particularly men who are reluctant to buy electric vehicles, implicitly associate them with femininity. These findings suggest that cultural and symbolic perceptions may act as barriers to electric vehicle adoption, particularly among certain consumer groups.</p>
<p>The study was conducted to investigate why the adoption of electric vehicles varies across different countries and among different consumer groups. While economic factors such as price, infrastructure, and government incentives play a role, previous research has suggested that cars are more than just modes of transport—they carry cultural and symbolic meanings. Historically, internal combustion engine vehicles have been associated with masculinity, representing power, speed, and dominance.</p>
<p>In contrast, electric vehicles have been linked to femininity due to their environmental benefits, ease of use, and quieter operation. The researchers aimed to examine whether these gendered associations influence the adoption of electric vehicles at both the national and individual levels.</p>
<p>To explore these questions, the researchers conducted two studies. The first study examined the relationship between cultural values and electric vehicle adoption across 31 European countries using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, a widely recognized framework for measuring national cultural traits. Specifically, they focused on the masculinity-femininity dimension, which distinguishes cultures that emphasize competition, achievement, and material success (masculine) from those that prioritize care, quality of life, and cooperation (feminine).</p>
<p>To test their hypothesis, the researchers compared each country’s masculinity-femininity score with its electric vehicle market share, controlling for economic and policy factors that could also influence adoption. These included gross national income per capita, car ownership rates, national environmental policies, gasoline prices, and electricity prices.</p>
<p>The findings showed a strong relationship between cultural femininity and higher electric vehicle market share. Countries with lower masculinity scores, indicating a more feminine cultural orientation, had significantly higher adoption rates of electric vehicles. Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands stood out as having both the lowest masculinity scores and the highest electric vehicle market shares.</p>
<p>In contrast, countries with higher masculinity scores tended to have lower electric vehicle adoption rates, suggesting that traditional cultural values emphasizing power and competition might discourage consumers from choosing electric vehicles. Among all the cultural factors analyzed, the masculinity-femininity dimension was the strongest predictor of electric vehicle adoption, even when accounting for economic and policy influences. This suggests that beyond financial and infrastructural considerations, symbolic and cultural meanings of vehicles may play a significant role in shaping consumer behavior at a national level.</p>
<p>For the second study, the researchers shifted their focus from national cultural trends to individual consumer perceptions. They sought to determine whether consumers, particularly in a relatively masculine country like Germany, implicitly associate electric vehicles with femininity and whether this association influences their willingness to adopt the technology. To explore this, they conducted an online survey with 429 German participants, ensuring a representative sample in terms of age and gender.</p>
<p>The study employed an implicit association test (IAT), a psychological tool designed to measure unconscious biases by analyzing how quickly participants associate certain concepts. In this case, participants categorized words and images related to electric and internal combustion engine vehicles alongside words associated with femininity and masculinity. Faster response times indicated stronger implicit associations between concepts.</p>
<p>The results of Study 2 revealed that German consumers generally associated electric vehicles with femininity, though the strength of this association varied significantly by gender and purchase intention. Men exhibited a stronger tendency to link electric vehicles with femininity than women did. More importantly, the men who were least interested in purchasing an electric vehicle displayed the strongest association between electric vehicles and femininity.</p>
<p>This suggests that the perception of electric vehicles as a feminine product may discourage some men from adopting them, particularly those who strongly identify with traditional masculine traits. In contrast, men and women who were open to purchasing an electric vehicle showed much weaker gendered associations, indicating that those already considering electric vehicles may be less influenced by cultural stereotypes.</p>
<p>But there are limitations to consider. First, the research focused only on European countries, so the findings may not generalize to other regions with different cultural and economic contexts. Additionally, the study did not differentiate between different types of electric vehicles, such as luxury models versus compact city cars, which may carry different symbolic meanings.</p>
<p>Future research could explore how marketing and policy strategies can reshape cultural perceptions of electric vehicles and encourage broader adoption. Understanding these cultural and psychological barriers may help policymakers and automakers develop more effective strategies to promote electric vehicle adoption across different consumer groups.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tbs.2023.100593" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Perceived lack of masculinity as a barrier to adoption of electric cars? An empirical investigation of gender associations with low-carbon vehicles</a>,” was authored by Jana Plananska, Rolf Wüstenhagen, and Emanuel de Bellis.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/examining-the-link-between-dog-ownership-physical-activity-and-mental-health/" 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;">Examining the link between dog ownership, physical activity, and mental health</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 30th 2025, 16:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A recent study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02104-x"><em>BMC Psychology</em></a> has found that while dog owners tend to be more physically active than other pet owners, it is the physical activity they perform independently of their dogs and their general exercise habits that are associated with better mental health.</p>
<p>Previous research has suggested that owning a dog can increase physical activity and improve mental wellbeing. However, few studies have examined these relationships together. This new study aimed to fill that gap by investigating whether dog ownership, dog-related physical activity, and non-dog-related physical activity are linked to mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety, and whether these relationships differ between older and younger adults.</p>
<p>The research team, led by Kirrily Zablan from Deakin University in Australia, was interested in understanding how dog ownership and physical activity might influence mental health, particularly through the lens of loneliness. Loneliness is a major contributor to poor mental health, and the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of social connections and physical activity for mental well-being.</p>
<p>To explore these questions, Zablan and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study with 588 Australian companion animal owners (76% female), who were aged 18 to 84 years, and all of whom owned at least one pet. Participants completed questionnaires that measured dog ownership, physical activity, depression, anxiety, and loneliness.</p>
<p>The results showed that dog owners were indeed more active than people who owned other pets, such as cats, birds, or fish. Overall, the dog owners were engaged in higher levels of both dog-related and non-dog-related physical activity.</p>
<p>However, only non-dog-related physical activity – such as running, playing sports, or working out at the gym – was associated with better mental health outcomes. Dog walking and other pet-related activities did not seem to have the same impact.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the study also found that older and younger adult companion animal owners experienced similar moderate levels of loneliness, and that loneliness played a major role in mental health outcomes. Notably, in younger adults, this moderate loneliness was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to older adults.</p>
<p>The researchers noted several limitations of the study. For instance, the cross-sectional design means that causal inferences cannot be made, and the sample was skewed towards female participants.</p>
<p>Overall, Zablan and colleagues cautioned against encouraging people to adopt dogs purely for mental wellbeing reasons. They concluded that one who acquires a dog “with the sole purpose of improving their mental health is unlikely to experience mental health benefits. Furthermore, overstating the benefits of dog ownership on this basis poses significant potential welfare risks to individual dogs which may suffer neglect and relinquishment.”</p>
<p>While dogs may not be a cure for mental health struggles, they can still be valuable companions. However, the most effective way to improve mental health appears to be engaging in regular, independent exercise.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-024-02104-x">Dog ownership, physical activity, loneliness and mental health: a comparison of older adult and younger adult companion animal owners</a>,” was authored by Kirrily Zablan, Glenn Melvin, and Alexa Hayley.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/why-podcast-hosts-feel-like-friends-study-explores-authenticity-and-parasocial-relationships/" 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;">Why podcast hosts feel like friends: Study explores authenticity and parasocial relationships</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 30th 2025, 14:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>Why do podcast listeners feel so connected to hosts they have never met? A new study published in the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19376529.2024.2432023"><em>Journal of Radio & Audio Media</em></a> sheds light on this question, finding that authenticity plays a key role in forming these parasocial relationships. Through interviews with podcast fans, researchers identified specific traits—like spontaneity, imperfection, and personal confessions—that make hosts seem genuine and relatable. These findings suggest that podcasting fosters a unique sense of intimacy between hosts and audiences.</p>
<p>Parasocial relationships refer to the one-sided emotional connections that audiences form with media personalities and other public figures. These relationships arise when individuals feel as though they personally know a figure, even though the figure is unaware of their existence. Research has shown that these bonds can lead to strong emotional attachments, influence opinions, and even affect consumer behavior.</p>
<p>However, while previous studies have examined parasocial relationships in television and radio, little research has explored how podcast listeners develop these connections, particularly in relation to perceptions of authenticity. The new study aimed to fill this gap by investigating which characteristics make podcast hosts appear authentic and how these perceptions contribute to the development of parasocial relationships.</p>
<p>“My interest in this topic stemmed from being an avid podcast listener myself. After noticing that podcast hosts were influencing me in a number of different ways, I came to the realisation that I must be viewing them as being authentic. This realization made me want to examine one-sided relationships with podcast hosts more closely, as well as why they might be perceived as being authentic,” said study author Karl Maloney Yorganci, who completed a PhD at the University of Salford’s School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology.</p>
<p>To conduct the study, the researcher selected ten individuals aged 25 to 34 who regularly listened to podcasts hosted by stand-up comedians. This age group was chosen because prior research indicated they are among the most frequent podcast consumers. Participants were recruited through social media invitations and interviewed via video conferencing platforms. The interviews were semi-structured, allowing participants to share their thoughts and experiences related to their favorite podcast hosts. The researcher then analyzed the interview transcripts to identify common themes and patterns.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed that listeners perceived their favorite podcast hosts as authentic based on seven key characteristics: ordinariness, immediacy, similarity, freedom, spontaneity, imperfection, and confessions. Each of these traits contributed to the development of parasocial relationships by either creating a sense of knowing the host or fostering a feeling of friendship.</p>
<p><strong>Ordinariness</strong> was one of the most frequently mentioned traits. Listeners described their favorite hosts as everyday people who shared common frustrations and experiences. Unlike traditional celebrities, podcast hosts were seen as unfiltered and unpretentious, discussing mundane aspects of life and using casual, relatable language. This ordinariness helped listeners feel that the hosts were “one of them.”</p>
<p>For example, Joe Rogan (<em>The Joe Rogan Experience</em>) was frequently described by participants as a “regular guy” who asks the same kinds of questions they would if they were interviewing guests. Similarly, Bill Burr (<em>Monday Morning Podcast</em>) is known for his unfiltered rants about everyday inconveniences, such as dealing with customer service or watching sports, making him feel like a relatable figure rather than a distant celebrity.</p>
<p><strong>Immediacy</strong> played a crucial role in fostering connection. Listeners often felt as though they were actively participating in the conversation rather than simply being passive observers. The casual, conversational nature of podcasting made listeners feel included, as if they were engaging in a real-time discussion with their favorite host. For example, Tim Dillon (<em>The Tim Dillon Show</em>) frequently comments on current events with up-to-date humor, making listeners feel as if they are part of an ongoing, timely conversation. Deniz Özturhan (<em>O Tarz Mı?</em>) was also noted for picking trendy topics, reinforcing the sense that listeners were “in it” with the hosts as events unfolded.</p>
<p><strong>Similarity</strong> was another important factor. Many participants noted that they shared personal traits, values, or humor styles with their favorite hosts. This perceived similarity reinforced the feeling that they truly “knew” the hosts and contributed to a stronger emotional connection. For instance, some participants who enjoyed stand-up comedy felt a natural kinship with Marc Maron (<em>WTF with Marc Maron</em>), whose self-deprecating humor and introspective monologues resonated with them. Others felt drawn to Iliza Shlesinger (<em>Ask Iliza Anything</em>) because they saw aspects of their own personalities in her sharp-witted, no-nonsense approach to life and relationships.</p>
<p><strong>Freedom</strong> was a characteristic unique to podcasts compared to other forms of media. Participants believed that podcast hosts had greater autonomy in choosing what to discuss, how to express themselves, and whom to feature as guests. Unlike television and radio personalities, podcast hosts were seen as unfiltered and unconstrained by network restrictions, making their words feel more genuine. This was particularly evident in the case of Tim Dillon, who built a successful Patreon subscriber base that allows him to speak freely without corporate oversight.</p>
<p><strong>Spontaneity</strong> further enhanced the perception of authenticity. Listeners appreciated that podcast hosts did not sound scripted or overly rehearsed. Instead, they spoke naturally and candidly, responding in real time to guests and events. Advertisements also seemed more genuine when they felt like off-the-cuff recommendations rather than forced endorsements. Joe Rogan, for example, is known for engaging in long, free-flowing conversations that sometimes take unexpected detours, making his podcast feel more organic. Likewise, Iliza Shlesinger often responds to listener-submitted questions in real time, adding to the sense that she is thinking aloud rather than following a script.</p>
<p><strong>Imperfection</strong> was another marker of authenticity. Unlike traditional media figures who present polished, highly curated personas, podcast hosts often displayed flaws. They rambled, misspoke, or went off on tangents, making them seem more human and relatable. Listeners found these imperfections endearing, reinforcing the idea that the hosts were being their true selves. Bill Burr is well-known for going off on long, often absurd tangents, occasionally contradicting himself or circling back to an earlier thought in a humorous way.</p>
<p><strong>Confessions</strong> contributed to a deep sense of connection. Hosts who openly discussed personal struggles, anxieties, or past failures were perceived as especially authentic. Listeners felt they were granted access to the host’s inner world, strengthening their emotional attachment. Marc Maron, for example, is known for sharing deeply personal stories about his struggles with addiction, relationships, and self-doubt, which makes listeners feel as if they truly know him.</p>
<p>“Believing that you share similarities with a podcast host and perceiving them as a regular, relatable person can foster a sense of friendship towards them, as can a feeling of being connected in a shared moment,” Yorganci told PsyPost. “Viewing a podcast host as free to express themselves, acknowledging their imperfections, and making personal confessions can create a sense of truly getting to know them.”</p>
<p>“However, because of authenticity’s intangible and unmeasurable nature, there is no way of establishing whether a podcast host actually is or isn’t authentic. Perceived authenticity can be used to legitimize hate speech, conspiracy theories, post-truth politics, and even violence. Therefore, it is important for us to develop our understanding about both mediated authenticity and strong relationships with podcast hosts, which studies have shown can have strong effects on our attitudes and behavior.”</p>
<p>As with any study, there are limitations to consider. The small sample size means the findings may not be generalizable to all podcast listeners. Additionally, the research focused solely on podcasts hosted by stand-up comedians, which may have unique dynamics not present in other podcast genres. Future research could explore a larger and more diverse sample of podcast listeners and examine how different podcast formats or content types influence perceptions of authenticity and the development of parasocial relationships.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/19376529.2024.2432023">“One of Us”: Examining the Authenticity and Parasocial Relationships of Stand-Up Comedian Podcast Hosts</a>,” was authored by Karl T. Maloney Yorganci and Leslie Grace McMurtry.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/do-chatbots-fill-a-social-void-research-examines-their-role-for-lonely-teens/" 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;">Do chatbots fill a social void? Research examines their role for lonely teens</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 30th 2025, 12:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A recent study published in the <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071581924001927" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Journal of Human-Computer Studies</a></em> sheds light on how Danish high school students use chatbots for social interactions. The study found that while most students do not engage in friend-like conversations with chatbots, a small proportion do use chatbots to seek emotional support or engage in casual social conversations. These students reported significantly higher levels of loneliness and lower levels of perceived social support than their peers.</p>
<p>Social chatbots are artificial intelligence systems designed to engage in natural, human-like conversations. Unlike traditional chatbots used for customer service or information retrieval, social chatbots are created to simulate friendly, empathetic, and engaging interactions. These AI companions, such as Replika and Character AI, have gained popularity as they can mimic casual conversations, provide emotional support, and even respond to users’ thoughts and feelings.</p>
<p>Social chatbots have become appealing to individuals seeking companionship, entertainment, or emotional expression. However, their increasing use has raised questions about whether they genuinely fulfill social needs or if they merely act as substitutes for human relationships.</p>
<p>“The adoption of chatbots, social robots, and similar conversational technologies marks a historical shift in human social spheres,” said study author <a href="https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/persons/abh%40psy.au.dk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arthur Bran Herbener</a>, a PhD student at Aarhus University. “The trends we observe in this research are perhaps only the beginning, considering the rapid pace of technological advancements coupled with socio-cultural challenges related to social well-being among youngsters in the Western world. However, how this trend will affect us humans at an individual and cultural level remains uncertain. Trying to understand this phenomenon is what intrigues me.”</p>
<p>The study aimed to answer three key questions: how many young people engage in social conversations with chatbots, why they do so, and whether their engagement is linked to loneliness and perceived social support. To explore these questions, the researchers conducted a large-scale survey study involving 1,599 students from 15 Danish high schools.</p>
<p>The study used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative survey data with qualitative thematic analysis of students’ free-text responses. Students were asked about their frequency of chatbot use, the nature of their conversations, and their levels of loneliness and perceived social support. A key focus was on whether students engaged in “friend-like” conversations with chatbots—defined as casual or emotionally supportive interactions—as opposed to purely functional uses like looking up information or completing assignments.</p>
<p>The results showed that 234 students (14.6%) reported having friend-like conversations with chatbots at least once in the past month. However, a deeper analysis showed that most of these interactions were utilitarian rather than social in nature. Only 39 students (2.4% of the total sample) engaged in conversations that could be classified as social or emotionally supportive.</p>
<p>“We found that only a few youngsters had sought emotional support from chatbots and engaged in social conversations with them within the last month,” Herbener told PsyPost. “This was surprising, as media portrayals and scientists’ concerns sometimes suggest this phenomenon is highly widespread. However, our research indicates that, at least at the present moment, friend-like interactions between youngsters and chatbots are a relatively rare phenomenon. However, it will be interesting to see if this tendency grows in the near future.”</p>
<p>These students were significantly lonelier and reported feeling less socially supported than both their peers who did not use chatbots and those who used chatbots for practical purposes. Moreover, students who engaged in social-supportive chatbot interactions were more likely to initiate these conversations when they were feeling lonely, in a bad mood, or in need of self-disclosure. Notably, a sense of friendship with the chatbot was not a significant predictor of chatbot interactions, suggesting that students were using chatbots more as coping tools rather than as genuine social companions.</p>
<p>The study also found that students who frequently used chatbots for social interactions did not necessarily experience greater loneliness over time. This raises questions about the long-term effects of chatbot use on emotional well-being. While some researchers have raised concerns about chatbots displacing real-world social interactions, the findings suggest that chatbots may not necessarily replace human relationships but rather serve as temporary emotional outlets. However, the study was cross-sectional, meaning it could not determine whether chatbot use contributes to loneliness or whether lonely students are simply more likely to use chatbots.</p>
<p>“Some lonely youngsters appear to engage in friend-like conversations with chatbots, but our research also suggests that these chatbots primarily function as tools for coping with negative feelings, rather than the users perceive these chatbots as their friends,” Herbener said.</p>
<p>But as with all research, there are limitations to consider.</p>
<p>“The findings must be interpreted with caution. Not only must the estimates of the number of youngsters using chatbots be interpreted with caution due to possibility of self-selection bias, for example, if individuals with a particular interest in chatbots were more likely to participate in the study,” Herbener noted.</p>
<p>“Also, it proved to be quite difficult to measure ‘friend-like conversations’ with chatbots, as the participants’ descriptions of what they talk with chatbots about varied significantly, ranging from more utilitarian purposes such as school-related tasks to more social-supportive purposes such as casual conversations and emotional support.”</p>
<p>“To better understand this phenomenon, we need to develop more robust methods to measure the presence of human-chatbot relationships,” Herbener added. “And perhaps most important: This research does not give rise to establishing causal relationships between chatbot usage and loneliness due to the study’s nature as a cross-sectional survey study. We need more experimental research examining how human-chatbot relationships evolve over time. This is of utmost importance to better understand the implications of this phenomenon.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2024.103409" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Are lonely youngsters turning to chatbots for companionship? The relationship between chatbot usage and social connectedness in Danish high-school students</a>,” was authored by Arthur Bran Herbener and Malene Flensborg Damholdt.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/neuroimaging-study-links-anhedonia-to-altered-brain-connectivity/" 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;">Neuroimaging study links anhedonia to altered brain connectivity</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 30th 2025, 10:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A neuroimaging study found that men and individuals with psychiatric symptoms who experience more pronounced anhedonia tend to have increased functional connectivity between the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus and the nucleus accumbens—two brain regions involved in reward processing. The paper was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.113"><em>Journal of Affective Disorders</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p>Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure or enjoyment from activities that were once found enjoyable, such as hobbies, social interactions, or food. It is a common symptom of mental health conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and posttraumatic stress disorder. People with anhedonia often feel emotionally numb, disconnected from others, and struggle with motivation. Anhedonia can be classified into two types: social anhedonia, which affects relationships, and physical anhedonia, which impacts sensory pleasures.</p>
<p>The condition is linked to dysfunctions in the brain’s reward system, primarily involving neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. One brain region particularly linked to anhedonia is the nucleus accumbens, which plays a critical role in experiencing pleasure and learning associations with pleasant stimuli. An interplay between neurons that use dopamine for signaling and specific opioids produced by the body (endogenous opioids) in the shell of this region appears to play a key role in the perception of pleasurable experiences.</p>
<p>Study author Bianca T. Leonard and her colleagues sought to explore the role of another brain region in anhedonia—the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus. This region is functionally connected to the nucleus accumbens and other areas involved in processing emotions. The researchers conducted a neuroimaging study focusing on the functional connectivity of the paraventricular nucleus in individuals with varying levels of anhedonia.</p>
<p>The study included 63 adult participants, 47 of whom were experiencing psychiatric symptoms. Their mean age was 23–24 years, and 48 participants were women.</p>
<p>Participants underwent resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their brains. They also completed assessments for depression and anxiety using the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. From these assessments, the researchers derived a measure of anhedonia using statistical analysis.</p>
<p>The results showed that functional connectivity between the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus and the nucleus accumbens was positively associated with anhedonia in men with psychiatric symptoms. In other words, men with psychiatric symptoms who had greater functional connectivity between these two brain regions tended to have more severe anhedonia symptoms.</p>
<p>A similar but weaker finding was observed when the researchers analyzed individuals with psychiatric symptoms regardless of gender and when they examined men only. The association was of moderate strength in men. However, this association was not found in individuals without psychiatric symptoms, in the subgroup of women, or in the overall sample.</p>
<p>“The results of this study suggest that there is a pattern of functional connectivity between the PVT [paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus] and reward processing regions that is shared among males experiencing anhedonia. This pattern may reflect an important role that the PVT to NAc [nucleus accumbens] communication is playing in decision-making and behavioral changes in anhedonia,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the neural underpinnings of anhedonia. However, it should be noted that the study was conducted on a relatively small group of young people. Additionally, it did not use a dedicated measure of anhedonia but instead derived the assessment from measures of depression and anxiety.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.113">Anhedonia is associated with higher functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and paraventricular nucleus of thalamus,</a>” was authored by Bianca T. Leonard, Sarah M. Kark, Steven J. Granger, Joren G. Adams, Liv McMillan, and Michael A. Yassa.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
<p><strong>This information is taken from free public RSS feeds published by each organization for the purpose of public distribution. Readers are linked back to the article content on each organization's website. This email is an unaffiliated unofficial redistribution of this freely provided content from the publishers. </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><s><small><a href="#" style="color:#ffffff;"><a href="https://blogtrottr.com/unsubscribe/565/DY9DKf">unsubscribe from this feed</a></a></small></s></p>