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<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News</span></td>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/single-moderate-dose-of-psilocybin-linked-to-temporary-reduction-in-ocd-symptoms/" 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;">Single moderate dose of psilocybin linked to temporary reduction in OCD symptoms</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Dec 21st 2025, 08:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study suggests that a moderate dose of psilocybin can effectively reduce symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder for a short period. The findings indicate that the improvement is most pronounced in compulsive behaviors rather than obsessive thoughts. These results were published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2025.152619" target="_blank">Comprehensive Psychiatry</a></em>.</p>
<p>Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly known as OCD, is a chronic mental health condition. It is characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviors. People with the disorder often feel the urge to repeat these behaviors to alleviate anxiety.</p>
<p>Standard treatments for the condition usually involve selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or cognitive behavioral therapy. These treatments are not effective for everyone. A significant portion of patients do not find relief through traditional means. This has led scientists to explore alternative therapeutic options.</p>
<p>Psilocybin is the active psychoactive compound found in “magic mushrooms.” It has gained attention in recent years as a potential treatment for various psychiatric conditions. These conditions include depression, anxiety, and addiction.</p>
<p>Most research into psilocybin has focused on high doses that induce a profound psychedelic experience. However, there are concerns about using high doses for patients with OCD. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with a fear of losing control. The intense psychological effects of a high dose could theoretically be distressing for them.</p>
<p>Luca Pellegrini and his colleagues designed a study to test a different approach. Pellegrini is a researcher associated with the University of Hertfordshire and Imperial College London. The research team wanted to see if a moderate dose of psilocybin could offer therapeutic benefits without a potentially overwhelming psychedelic experience.</p>
<p>The researchers also aimed to determine if the biological effects of the drug could reduce symptoms independently of a “mystical” experience. This is a departure from many depression studies, which often link the therapeutic outcome to the intensity of the psychedelic journey.</p>
<p>The study involved 19 adult participants. All participants had a primary diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The severity of their condition ranged from moderate to severe. They had been living with the disorder for at least one year.</p>
<p>The researchers employed a fixed-order, within-subject design. This means that every participant received the same treatments in the same order. There was no randomization of the dosage sequence.</p>
<p>Participants attended two dosing sessions separated by at least four weeks. In the first session, they received a very low dose of 1 mg of psilocybin. This served as a control or active placebo. It was expected to have minimal physiological or psychological effects.</p>
<p>In the second session, participants received a moderate dose of 10 mg of psilocybin. This dose was chosen to be high enough to potentially have a biological effect but low enough to minimize the risk of a challenging psychological experience.</p>
<p>The researchers engaged in extensive preparation with the participants. They provided psychological support before, during, and after the dosing sessions. However, this support was non-interventional. The therapists did not provide specific cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy during the sessions.</p>
<p>During the dosing days, participants stayed in a calm and comfortable room. They were encouraged to lie down and listen to music. Therapists were present to ensure their safety and provide reassurance if needed.</p>
<p>The primary measure of success was the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). This is a standardized clinical tool used to rate the severity of OCD symptoms. The scale measures both obsessions and compulsions separately.</p>
<p>The researchers assessed the participants at several time points. These included the day before dosing, the day of dosing, and then one week, two weeks, and four weeks after each dose.</p>
<p>The results showed a clear difference between the two doses. The 10 mg dose led to a significant reduction in OCD symptoms one week after administration. The magnitude of this improvement was considered large in statistical terms.</p>
<p>In contrast, the 1 mg dose resulted in much smaller changes. The difference between the effects of the 10 mg dose and the 1 mg dose was statistically significant at the one-week mark.</p>
<p>The researchers observed that the beneficial effects began to fade after the first week. By the two-week mark, the difference between the two doses was no longer statistically significant. By four weeks, symptom levels had largely returned to baseline.</p>
<p>A specific finding regarding the nature of the symptom relief stands out. The data revealed that the reduction in total scores was driven primarily by a decrease in compulsions. The scores for obsessions did show some improvement, but the change was not statistically significant.</p>
<p>This suggests that psilocybin might have a specific effect on the mechanisms that drive repetitive behaviors. It appears to make it easier for patients to resist the urge to perform rituals. It seems less effective at stopping the intrusive thoughts themselves.</p>
<p>The study also measured symptoms of depression using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. Many patients with OCD also suffer from depression. However, the researchers found no significant change in depression scores following the 10 mg dose.</p>
<p>This lack of effect on depression contrasts with other studies on psilocybin. Those studies typically use higher doses, such as 25 mg. The participants in this study generally had low levels of depression to begin with. This may explain why no significant improvement was observed.</p>
<p>The safety profile of the 10 mg dose was favorable. Participants tolerated the drug well. There were few adverse events reported.</p>
<p>No serious adverse events occurred during the study. Some participants experienced mild anxiety or headaches. One participant experienced a brief anxiety attack after the 1 mg dose, but it was resolved quickly.</p>
<p>The absence of distressing perceptual abnormalities was a key outcome. The 10 mg dose did not induce hallucinations or the intense “trip” associated with higher doses. This supports the idea that a moderate dose is a feasible option for patients who might be afraid of losing control.</p>
<p>The study builds on a growing body of evidence regarding psychedelics and OCD. Previous research has hinted at the potential of these compounds.</p>
<p>A <a href="https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.v67n1110" target="_blank">seminal study</a> conducted by Moreno and colleagues in 2006 investigated psilocybin in nine patients. That study found that symptoms decreased markedly after psilocybin administration. It tested various doses and found that even lower doses offered some relief. The current study by Pellegrini and team validates those earlier findings with a larger sample and a focused 10 mg dose.</p>
<p>Other lines of research also support the idea that the psychedelic experience itself may not be necessary for symptom relief in OCD. A <a href="https://www.psypost.org/psilocybin-shows-promise-in-ocd-treatment-even-without-the-psychedelic-trip/" target="_blank">preclinical study on mice</a> published in <em>Translational Psychiatry</em> explored this concept.</p>
<p>In that animal study, researchers used a “marble burying” test. This is a common behavior in mice used to model obsessive-compulsive traits. Mice treated with psilocybin buried significantly fewer marbles.</p>
<p>The researchers in the mouse study then administered a drug called buspirone alongside the psilocybin. Buspirone blocks the specific serotonin receptors responsible for the hallucinogenic effects. The mice still showed a reduction in marble burying. This suggests that the anti-compulsive effects of psilocybin might work through a different biological pathway than the psychedelic effects.</p>
<p>Case reports have also appeared in medical literature documenting similar effects. A report in the <em>Journal of Psychoactive Drugs</em> <a href="https://www.psypost.org/case-report-consumption-of-psilocybin-containing-mushrooms-results-in-amelioration-of-ocd-symptoms/" target="_blank">detailed the case</a> of a 30-year-old man with severe, treatment-resistant OCD.</p>
<p>This patient consumed psilocybin mushrooms on his own. He reported that his symptoms completely disappeared during the experience. He also noted a lasting reduction in symptom severity for months afterward. His scores on the Y-BOCS dropped from the “extreme” range to the “mild” range.</p>
<p>Survey data provides additional context. A study published in <em>Scientific Reports</em> surveyed 174 people who had used psychedelics. Over 30% of participants with OCD symptoms <a href="https://www.psypost.org/could-psychedelics-be-the-next-big-breakthrough-for-ocd-treatment/" target="_blank">reported positive effects</a> lasting more than three months.</p>
<p>These participants reported reduced anxiety and a decreased need to engage in rituals. This retrospective data supports the clinical findings that psilocybin targets the behavioral aspects of the disorder.</p>
<p>Despite the promising results, the current study by Pellegrini has several limitations. The sample size was small, with only 19 participants. This limits the statistical power of the analysis.</p>
<p>The study did not use a randomized design. All participants received the 1 mg dose first and the 10 mg dose second. This was done to prevent any potential long-term effects of the higher dose from influencing the results of the lower dose.</p>
<p>However, this fixed order introduces potential bias. Participants may have expected the second dose to be more effective. The researchers attempted to blind the participants to the dose, but most participants correctly guessed when they received the higher dose.</p>
<p>The duration of the effect was relatively short. The significant improvement lasted only one week. This suggests that a single dose may not be a long-term cure.</p>
<p>The short duration implies that repeated dosing might be necessary to maintain the benefits. Future research will need to investigate the safety and efficacy of administering psilocybin on a recurring basis.</p>
<p>The distinction between obsessions and compulsions also requires further study. The finding that compulsions improved more than obsessions is largely preliminary. Larger studies are needed to confirm if this is a consistent pattern.</p>
<p>The researchers suggest that combining psilocybin with psychotherapy could enhance the results. While this study used non-interventional support, active therapy might help patients integrate the experience. Therapies like Exposure and Response Prevention could be more effective during the window of reduced symptoms.</p>
<p>Future clinical trials should use larger samples and randomized designs. They should also explore the potential of multiple doses. Comparing the 10 mg dose directly against the standard 25 mg dose would also be valuable.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2025.152619" target="_blank">Single-dose (10 mg) psilocybin reduces symptoms in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A pharmacological challenge study</a>,” was authored by Luca Pellegrini, Naomi A. Fineberg, Sorcha O’Connor, Ana Maria Frota Lisboa Pereira De Souza, Kate Godfrey, Sara Reed, Joseph Peill, Mairead Healy, Cyrus Rohani-Shukla, Hakjun Lee, Robin Carhart-Harris, Trevor W. Robbins, David Nutt, and David Erritzoe.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/listening-to-music-immediately-after-learning-improves-memory-in-older-adults-and-alzheimers-patients/" 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;">Listening to music immediately after learning improves memory in older adults and Alzheimer’s patients</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Dec 21st 2025, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>Listening to music immediately after learning new information may help improve memory retention in older adults and individuals with mild Alzheimer’s disease. A new study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2025.2573267" target="_blank">Memory</a></em> provides evidence that emotionally stimulating music can enhance specific types of memory recall, while relaxing music might help fade negative memories. These findings suggest that low-cost, music-based interventions could play a supportive role in managing cognitive decline.</p>
<p>Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition that damages neurological structures essential for processing information. This damage typically begins in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. These areas are vital for forming new episodic memories. As the disease advances, individuals often struggle to recall specific events or details from their recent past.</p>
<p>A common symptom in the early stages of Alzheimer’s is false recognition. This occurs when a person incorrectly identifies a new object or event as something they have seen before. Memory scientists explain this through dual-process theories. These theories distinguish between recollection and familiarity. Recollection involves retrieving specific details about an event. Familiarity is a general sense that one has encountered something previously.</p>
<p>In Alzheimer’s disease, the capacity for detailed recollection often declines before the sense of familiarity does. Patients may rely on that vague sense of familiarity when trying to recognize information. This reliance can lead them to believe they have seen a new image or heard a new story when they have not. Reducing these false recognition errors is a key goal for cognitive interventions.</p>
<p>While specific memory systems degrade, the brain’s ability to process emotions often remains relatively intact for longer. Research indicates that emotional events are generally easier to remember than neutral ones. This emotional memory enhancement relies on the amygdala. This small, almond-shaped structure in the brain processes emotional arousal.</p>
<p>The amygdala interacts with the hippocampus to strengthen the storage of emotional memories. Activity in the amygdala can trigger the release of adrenal hormones and neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. These chemicals help solidify neural connections. This process suggests that stimulating the amygdala might help strengthen associated memories.</p>
<p>Researchers have explored whether music can serve as that stimulus. Music is known to induce strong emotional responses and activate the brain’s reward systems. Previous studies with young adults found that listening to music after learning can improve memory retention. The research team behind the current study aimed to see if this effect extended to older adults and those with Alzheimer’s.</p>
<p>“Our team, led by Dr. Wanda Rubinstein, began researching music-based interventions to improve memory around ten years ago, with a focus on emotional memory. The results regarding the effect of music on younger adults’ memory were promising. When presented after the learning phase, music improved visual and verbal memory,” said study author Julieta Moltrasio, a postdoctoral researcher affiliated with the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research, the University of Palermo, and University of Buenos Aires.</p>
<p>“Additionally, several studies have shown that people with dementia can remember familiar songs even when they forget important events from their past. My supervisor and I work with people with dementia, so we wanted to further explore the use of music as an intervention for this population. Specifically, we wanted to explore whether music could help them learn new emotional material, such as emotional pictures.”</p>
<p>The study included 186 participants living in Argentina. The sample consisted of 93 individuals diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease and 93 healthy older adults. A notable aspect of this group was their educational background. Many participants had lower levels of formal education than is typical in neuroscience research. This inclusion helps broaden the applicability of the scientific findings to a more diverse population.</p>
<p>The researchers engaged the participants in two sessions separated by one week. In the first session, participants viewed a series of 36 pictures. These images were drawn from a standardized database used in psychological research. The pictures varied in emotional content. Some were positive, some were negative, and others were neutral.</p>
<p>After viewing the images, the researchers divided the participants into three groups. Each group experienced a different auditory condition for three minutes. One group listened to emotionally arousing music. The researchers selected the third movement of Haydn’s Symphony No. 70 for this condition. This piece features unexpected changes in volume and rhythm intended to create high energy.</p>
<p>A second group listened to relaxing music. The researchers used Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major for this condition. This piece is characterized by a slow tempo and repetitive, predictable patterns. The third group served as a control and listened to white noise. White noise provides a constant background sound without musical structure.</p>
<p>Immediately after this listening phase, participants performed memory tasks. They were asked to describe as many pictures as they could remember. They also completed a recognition task. The researchers showed them the original pictures mixed with new ones. Participants had to identify which images they had seen before.</p>
<p>One week later, the participants returned for the second session. They repeated the recall and recognition tasks to test their long-term memory of the images. They did not listen to the music again during this second session. This design allowed the researchers to test whether the music played immediately after learning helped consolidate the memories over time.</p>
<p>The results showed that emotional memory was largely preserved in both groups. Both the healthy older adults and the patients with Alzheimer’s remembered emotional pictures better than neutral ones. This confirms that the ability to prioritize emotional information remains functional even when other cognitive processes decline.</p>
<p>The type of music played after the learning phase had distinct effects on memory performance one week later. For healthy older adults, listening to the emotionally arousing music led to better delayed recall. They were able to describe more of the positive and neutral pictures compared to those who listened to white noise. This suggests that the physiological arousal caused by the music helped lock in the memories formed just moments before.</p>
<p>For the participants with Alzheimer’s disease, the benefit manifested differently. The arousing music did not increase the total number of items they could recall. It did, however, improve their accuracy in the recognition task. Patients who listened to the stimulating music made fewer false recognition errors one week later. They were less likely to incorrectly confuse a new picture for an old one.</p>
<p>This reduction in false recognition implies that the music may have strengthened the specific details of the memory. By boosting the recollection process, the intervention helped patients distinguish between what they had actually seen and what merely felt familiar. This specific improvement in discrimination is significant for a condition defined by memory blurring.</p>
<p>The researchers also found a distinct effect for the relaxing music condition. Participants who listened to Pachelbel’s Canon showed a decrease in their ability to recognize negative pictures one week later. This finding was consistent across both the healthy older adults and those with Alzheimer’s.</p>
<p>“Our findings showed that emotionally arousing music improves memory in older adults and patients with dementia, while relaxing music decreases negative memories,” Moltrasio told PsyPost. “Based on previous research, we already knew that relaxing music could decrease memory, but we did not expect to find that it could specifically reduce negative memories in the populations we studied. If relaxing music can reduce the memory of negative images, these findings could be useful in developing treatments for people with negative memories, such as those with PTSD.”</p>
<p>“I also want to highlight that although the effects of highly familiar music on emotion and memory have been well-studied, our research proved that non-familiar music can also have a significant impact. This is important because it shows that music can have a powerful effect even if you don’t have a special connection to it.”</p>
<p>These observed effects align with the synaptic tagging hypothesis. This biological theory suggests that creating a memory involves a temporary tag at the synapse, the connection between neurons. If a strong stimulus follows the initial event, it triggers protein synthesis that stabilizes that tag. In this study, the music likely provided the necessary stimulation to solidify the preceding visual memories.</p>
<p>The research indicates that “even low-cost, easily replicable interventions, such as listening to music, can positively impact the memory of individuals experiencing memory loss,” Moltrasio explained. “These findings may help other researchers and developers create targeted treatments. Furthermore, certain brain regions (e.g., those related to music listening) can remain intact even when memory is impaired. We hope these findings offer researchers, caregivers, health professionals, and relatives of people with Alzheimer’s disease a glimmer of hope.”</p>
<p>“Although the results were promising, the size of the effects was not large. This means that the difference between the group that received the musical treatment and the group that did not is not very big. However, it is worth noting that we did find differences between the groups. This is the first study to prove that a music intervention after learning improves memory in Alzheimer’s disease.”</p>
<p>Additionally, the control condition used white noise. While standard in research, white noise can sometimes be aversive to listeners. Future studies might compare music to silence to ensure the effects are driven by the music itself and not a reaction to the noise. The researchers also note that they did not directly measure physiological arousal, such as heart rate, to confirm the participants’ physical reactions to the music.</p>
<p>Future research aims to explore these mechanisms further. The research team is interested in how familiar music might affect memory and whether active engagement, such as singing or playing instruments, might offer more potent benefits. They are also investigating how the ability to recognize emotions in music changes with dementia. Understanding these nuances could lead to more targeted, non-pharmacological therapies for memory loss.</p>
<p>“We are currently investigating how music is processed and the effects of musical training on cognition,” Moltrasio told PsyPost. “One line of research focuses on how young and older adults, as well as people with dementia, process emotions in music. Among younger adults, we have examined differences in music emotion recognition and other cognitive domains, such as short-term memory and verbal and nonverbal reasoning, between musicians and non-musicians. We have also examined how personality traits may affect the recognition of emotions in music.”</p>
<p>“Regarding Alzheimer’s disease, we are investigating whether the ability to detect emotions in music is impaired. Even when their ability to process other emotional cues, such as those expressed through facial expressions, is impaired, they may still be able to distinguish certain emotions in music. This could be useful for developing music-based interventions that build on these participants’ abilities.”</p>
<p>“Another line of research that I would like to pursue is the effect of familiar music on memory,” Moltrasio continued. “Based on this research, we could develop specific interventions for people with dementia using familiar music. I am not currently working on this line of research, but it could be the next step for me and my team.”</p>
<p>“Our study emphasizes the importance of researching simple, low-cost interventions for dementia. This is particularly relevant when considering the demographics of individuals living with dementia in countries like Argentina. Most neuroscience research does not include individuals with low educational levels, despite the fact that they represent the majority of older adults in our country. Therefore, it is crucial to encourage and support research incorporating more diverse populations.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2025.2573267" target="_blank">The soundtrack of memory: the effect of music on emotional memory in Alzheimer’s disease and older adults</a>,” was authored by Julieta Moltrasio and Wanda Rubinstein.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/outrage-at-individual-bigotry-may-undermine-support-for-systemic-racial-justice/" 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;">Outrage at individual bigotry may undermine support for systemic racial justice</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Dec 20th 2025, 18:00</div>
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<p><p>Recent psychological research suggests that for some White Americans, expressing anger at individual acts of racism may actually decrease their motivation to support broader systemic change. The study indicates that voicing outrage at a specific bigot can serve as a psychological release that alleviates feelings of guilt associated with racial privilege, thereby reducing the drive to take further reparative action. These findings were published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672251361264" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin</a></em>.</p>
<p>The year 2020 saw a global surge in protests following high-profile incidents of police violence against Black individuals. This period introduced many Americans to concepts such as structural racism and White privilege. White privilege refers to the unearned societal advantages that White individuals experience simply due to their racial identity.</p>
<p>Psychological theory posits that acknowledging these unearned advantages can be psychologically threatening to a person’s moral self-image. This awareness often triggers a specific emotion known as White collective guilt. This is not guilt over one’s own personal actions, but rather distress arising from the advantages one receives at the expense of another group.</p>
<p>Psychologists have previously established that this type of guilt can be a powerful motivator. It often drives individuals to support policies or organizations aimed at restoring equity. However, the discomfort of guilt also motivates people to find ways to reduce the negative feeling.</p>
<p>Zachary K. Rothschild, a researcher at Bowdoin College, sought to understand how this dynamic plays out in the age of viral news stories. Rothschild and his colleague, Myles Hugee, investigated whether focusing anger on a specific “bad apple”—an individual acting in a clearly racist manner—might function as a defense mechanism.</p>
<p>The researchers proposed that expressing outrage at a third party could allow individuals to separate themselves from the problem of racism. By condemning a specific bigot, a person reaffirms their own moral standing. This “moral cleansing” might satisfy the internal need to address the threat of racism, leaving the individual with less motivation to contribute to solving systemic issues.</p>
<p>To test this hypothesis, the researchers conducted three separate experiments involving White American adults. The first study involved 896 participants recruited through an online platform. The team first measured the participants’ “justice sensitivity,” which is a personality trait reflecting how strongly a person reacts to unfairness faced by others.</p>
<p>The researchers then manipulated whether the participants felt a sense of racial privilege. Half of the group completed a survey designed to make them think about the unearned advantages they possess as White Americans. The other half completed a control survey about the privileges of being an adult.</p>
<p>Following this, all participants read a news story based on real events. The article described a White woman falsely accusing a Black man of threatening her and then assaulting him. This scenario was chosen to mirror viral incidents that typically spark public anger.</p>
<p>After reading the story, the researchers divided the participants again. One group was asked to write a short paragraph expressing their feelings about the woman in the story. This gave them an opportunity to vent their outrage. The other group was asked to write an objective summary of the events, denying them the chance to express emotion.</p>
<p>Finally, the researchers gave the participants a bonus payment for the study. They offered the participants the option to donate some or all of this money to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This donation served as a concrete measure of their willingness to address racial inequity.</p>
<p>The results revealed a specific pattern among participants who scored low in justice sensitivity. For these individuals, being reminded of their White privilege increased their feelings of guilt. If they were not given the chance to express outrage, this guilt drove them to donate more money to the NAACP.</p>
<p>However, the dynamic changed for those who were allowed to vent their anger. Among the low justice sensitivity participants, the opportunity to express outrage at the woman in the story completely eliminated the privilege-induced increase in donations. The act of condemning the individual racist appeared to neutralize the motivating power of their collective guilt.</p>
<p>This effect was not present among participants who scored high in justice sensitivity. For those individuals, the motivation to support racial justice appeared to be intrinsic. Their donations were less dependent on momentary feelings of guilt or the opportunity to express outrage.</p>
<p>The second study, involving 1,344 participants, aimed to determine if this effect was specific to racial issues. The researchers followed a similar procedure but introduced a variation in the news story. Half the participants read the original story about a White woman and a Black man. The other half read a modified version where both the perpetrator and the victim were White.</p>
<p>The researchers found that expressing outrage reduced donations only when the injustice was racial in nature. When the story involved white-on-white conflict, expressing anger did not lower the donation amounts. This suggests that the “moral cleansing” function of outrage is specific to the domain where the person feels a moral threat.</p>
<p>The third study was designed to address potential limitations of the first two. The researchers recruited 1,133 participants and used a more controlled method to measure outrage. Instead of an open-ended writing task, participants in the “expression” condition completed a survey explicitly rating their anger at the perpetrator’s racism.</p>
<p>The researchers also changed the outcome measure to something more substantial than a small donation. They presented participants with a campaign by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) focused on systemic equality. Participants could choose to sign a pledge and select specific volunteer activities they would commit to over the coming year.</p>
<p>The findings from the third study replicated the earlier results. For participants with low justice sensitivity, being reminded of White privilege increased their willingness to volunteer for the ACLU. However, if these participants were first given the opportunity to report their outrage at the individual racist, their willingness to volunteer dropped significantly.</p>
<p>The study provides evidence for what the authors call “defensive outrage.” It suggests that for some people, participating in the public condemnation of racist individuals may serve a self-serving psychological function. It allows them to feel that they have handled their moral obligation, thereby reducing their engagement with the more difficult work of addressing systemic inequality.</p>
<p>There are several caveats to consider regarding this research. The participants were recruited online, which may not perfectly represent the general population. Additionally, the third study relied on self-reported intentions to volunteer, which does not always guarantee that the participants would follow through with the actions.</p>
<p>The study focused exclusively on White Americans. The psychological dynamics of guilt and outrage may function differently in other racial or ethnic groups. Future research would need to investigate whether similar patterns exist in different cultural contexts or regarding other types of social inequality.</p>
<p>The authors note that these findings should not be interpreted to mean that all outrage is counterproductive. For many people, anger is a genuine fuel for sustained activism. The study specifically highlights a mechanism where outrage replaces, rather than complements, constructive action among those who are less naturally inclined toward justice concerns.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672251361264" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Demotivating Justice: White Americans’ Outrage at Individual Bigotry May Reduce Action to Address Systematic Racial Inequity</a>,” was authored by Zachary K. Rothschild and Myles Hugee.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/consumption-of-common-mineral-associated-with-lower-risk-of-suicidal-thoughts/" 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;">Consumption of common mineral associated with lower risk of suicidal thoughts</a>
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<p><p>Increased intake of dietary selenium is associated with a lower likelihood of reporting suicidal thoughts among American adults. A recent analysis of population health data indicates that as consumption of this trace mineral rises, the odds of experiencing suicidal ideation decrease. These findings were published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120265" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Affective Disorders</a></em>.</p>
<p>Suicide remains a persistent public health challenge around the world. Public health officials and medical professionals prioritize identifying early warning signs to prevent tragic outcomes. Suicidal ideation, characterized by thinking about self-harm or ending one’s life, is a primary indicator of future suicide attempts.</p>
<p>Most prevention strategies currently focus on psychological and social risk factors. Mental health professionals typically look for signs of depression, anxiety, or social isolation. However, researchers are increasingly investigating how physical health and nutrition influence psychiatric well-being.</p>
<p>Trace minerals play specific roles in brain function and mood regulation. Selenium is one such essential element. It is found naturally in soil and appears in foods such as nuts, seafood, meats, and whole grains.</p>
<p>The body utilizes selenium to create selenoproteins. These proteins help manage oxidative stress and regulate the immune system. Previous research has hinted at a link between low selenium levels and mood disorders like depression.</p>
<p>Haobiao Liu of Xi’an Jiaotong University and Zhuohang Chen of Fudan University sought to explore this connection specifically regarding suicidal ideation. They noted that prior studies on trace elements and suicide yielded inconsistent results. Some earlier investigations were limited by small participant numbers or specific demographic focuses.</p>
<p>Liu and Chen designed their study to analyze a much larger and more representative group of people. They utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). This program collects health and nutritional information from a cross-section of the United States population.</p>
<p>The researchers aggregated data from survey cycles spanning from 2005 to 2016. They applied strict exclusion criteria to ensure the reliability of their dataset. For example, they removed individuals with implausible daily calorie counts to avoid data errors.</p>
<p>The final analysis included 23,942 participants. To assess what these individuals ate, the survey employed a dietary recall interview. Participants described all food and beverages consumed over the preceding 24 hours.</p>
<p>Interviewers conducted two separate recalls for each participant to improve accuracy. The first took place in person, and the second occurred via telephone days later. The researchers calculated average daily selenium intake from these reports.</p>
<p>To measure mental health outcomes, the study relied on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). This is a standard screening tool used by doctors to identify depression. The researchers focused specifically on the ninth item of this questionnaire.</p>
<p>This specific question asks participants if they have been bothered by thoughts that they would be “better off dead” or of hurting themselves. Respondents answered based on their experience over the previous two weeks. Those who reported having these thoughts for several days or more were classified as having suicidal ideation.</p>
<p>The researchers used statistical models to look for associations between selenium levels and these reported thoughts. They accounted for various confounding factors that could skew the results. These included age, gender, income, body mass index, and overall diet quality.</p>
<p>The analysis showed an inverse relationship. Participants with higher levels of dietary selenium were less likely to report suicidal ideation. This association persisted even after the researchers adjusted for the other demographic and health variables.</p>
<p>The researchers calculated the change in risk based on units of selenium intake. In their fully adjusted model, they found that a specific unit increase in intake corresponded to a 41 percent decrease in the odds of suicidal ideation. This suggests a strong statistical link between the nutrient and mental health status.</p>
<p>To understand the trend better, the researchers divided participants into four groups based on intake levels. These groups are known as quartiles. The first quartile had the lowest selenium intake, while the fourth had the highest.</p>
<p>Comparing these groups revealed a consistent pattern. Individuals in the top three groups all had a lower risk of suicidal thoughts compared to the bottom group. The risk reduction was most pronounced in the group with the highest consumption.</p>
<p>The study also tested for a “dose-response” relationship. The analysis indicated a linear negative association. As the amount of selenium in the diet went up, the reports of suicidal thinking went down.</p>
<p>The authors propose several biological reasons why this might happen. One theory involves oxidative stress. The brain is sensitive to damage from free radicals, and selenium-based enzymes help neutralize these threats.</p>
<p>Another potential mechanism involves inflammation. High levels of inflammation in the body are often found in people with depression and suicidal behaviors. Selenium has anti-inflammatory properties that might help protect the brain from these effects.</p>
<p>Neurotransmitters may also play a role. These are the chemical messengers that allow nerve cells to communicate. The study authors note that selenium might influence the regulation of serotonin and dopamine, which are critical for mood stability.</p>
<p>Despite these promising findings, the study has several limitations. The research was cross-sectional in design. This means it captured a snapshot of data at a single point in time rather than following people over years.</p>
<p>Because of this design, the study cannot prove that low selenium causes suicidal thoughts. It only shows that the two things are related mathematically. It is possible that people who are depressed simply eat fewer nutrient-rich foods.</p>
<p>Another limitation is the reliance on memory for dietary data. It is difficult for people to remember exactly what they ate in the last 24 hours. This can lead to inaccuracies in the estimated nutrient intake.</p>
<p>The assessment of suicidal ideation also had constraints. Using a single question from a depression screener provides a limited view of a complex behavior. It does not capture the severity or duration of the thoughts in detail.</p>
<p>The researchers also acknowledged that individual biology varies. People absorb nutrients differently based on their genetics and gut health. The study could not account for how well each participant’s body utilized the selenium they consumed.</p>
<p>Future research is necessary to confirm these results. The authors suggest that prospective studies are needed. These would follow large groups of people over time to see if baseline selenium levels predict future mental health issues.</p>
<p>Clinical trials could also provide stronger evidence. In such studies, researchers would provide selenium supplements to some participants and placebos to others. This would help determine if increasing intake directly improves mental well-being.</p>
<p>Investigating the biological pathways is another priority. Scientists need to understand exactly how selenium interacts with brain chemistry. This could lead to new treatments or dietary recommendations for people at risk of suicide.</p>
<p>Until then, the findings add to a growing body of evidence linking diet to mental health. They highlight the potential importance of proper nutrition in maintaining psychological resilience. Public health strategies might one day include dietary optimization as part of suicide prevention efforts.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120265" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Does dietary selenium protect against suicidal ideation? Findings from a U.S. population study</a>,” was authored by Haobiao Liu and Zhuohang Chen.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/five-psychological-approaches-to-handling-holiday-loneliness/" 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;">Five psychological approaches to handling holiday loneliness</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Dec 20th 2025, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>Christmas is often considered a time of connection, warmth and belonging. That’s the script, anyway. But for many people, the reality feels different; isolating, emotionally weighted and filled with comparisons that sting.</p>
<p>Whether you’re spending Christmas alone, navigating grief, or simply don’t feel “festive,” it can feel like you’ve slipped <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-you-feel-pressure-to-adhere-to-christmas-traditions-and-how-to-reject-the-ones-you-dont-like-268707">out of sync</a> with the rest of the world. However, that feeling isn’t the same as being alone. Loneliness, isn’t about the number of people around you. It’s about connection, and the absence of it.</p>
<p>This <a href="https://theconversation.com/topics/christmas-1968">time of year</a> intensifies emotional experience. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23398180/">Rituals</a> such as decorating a tree or watching a favourite film may bring up memories. These could be of people, or they could be of former versions of ourselves.</p>
<p>We measure time differently in December, a phenomenon psychologists refer to as <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11368494_It_feels_like_yesterday_Self-esteem_valence_of_personal_past_experiences_and_judgments_of_subjective_distance">“temporal anchoring”</a>. The season acts as a golden thread spanning our lives, pulling us back to the past. We often use it to reflect on what we’ve lost, who we’ve become, and what didn’t happen. It can cut deeply.</p>
<p>It is a sharp counterpoint to the cultural messaging: people coming together, the push to be joyful and the idea that gratitude must prevail. It’s not just tinsel that is expected to sparkle. We are, too.</p>
<p>Some people are more vulnerable at this time of year, particularly those in flux or <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/transitions-40th-anniversary-making-sense-of-life-s-changes-william-bridges/4068812?ean=9780738285405&next=t">transitioning</a>. A recent breakup, moving house, a medical diagnosis or redundancy can often lead to feeling emotionally unanchored. Others carry complex feelings about family, grief or past trauma, which make forced joy or cheerfulness jarring.</p>
<p>Personality plays a role too. People high in traits such as <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behaviour-change/article/abs/social-identities-mediate-the-relationship-between-isolation-life-transitions-and-loneliness/24ADD944294D39ED172DC619C4DCB597">neuroticism</a> or <a href="https://hewittlab.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2014/11/MPS.pdf">socially prescribed perfectionism</a> can be more vulnerable to distress and loneliness when life does not live up to their expectations.</p>
<h2>Your brain on loneliness</h2>
<p><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8618012/">Studies have shown</a> that chronic loneliness can increase stress hormones such as cortisol, impair immune function and even affect cardiovascular health. Social neuroscientist John Cacioppo <a href="https://news.uchicago.edu/story/study-examines-whether-loneliness-could-be-heritable-trait">described loneliness</a> as “a biological warning system” that our need for connection isn’t being met.</p>
<p>Loneliness, though, is a normal human response. It is a reaction to a mismatch between our desired social experience and our reality. <a href="https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Courses/College_of_the_Canyons/COMS_246%3A_Interpersonal_Communication_%28Leonard%29/2%3A_Communication_and_the_Self/2.2%3A_Self-Discrepancy_Theory">Self-discrepancy theory</a> helps explain why this mismatch causes emotional pain. When there’s a gap between who we are and who we feel we should be, whether it is socially, emotionally or even seasonally, discomfort follows. Christmas, with all its trimmings, amplifies that gap.</p>
<h2>Solitude isn’t the enemy</h2>
<p>That said, being alone at Christmas doesn’t automatically mean something’s wrong.<br>
In fact, it might be exactly what you need.</p>
<p>For many, this time can be a rare opportunity for space, stillness and healing. It<br>
might be the only time of year when you get the space to hear your own thoughts, reflect or reset. Choosing solitude purposefully can be deeply restorative.</p>
<p>Connecting with yourself can be just as important as connecting with others.<br>
Research into <a href="https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/theory/">self-determination theory</a> also highlights autonomy, competence and relatedness as core psychological needs.</p>
<p>Autonomy, in particular, means honouring your own choices, not other people’s expectations. For example, choosing to spend the day quietly reading, cooking for yourself, or creating a personal ritual supports both autonomy and competence. These acts reinforce your ability to care for yourself and reduce the pressure to seek validation from others.</p>
<p>Philosophers such as 19th-century Danish thinker <a href="https://www.seenandunseen.com/soren-kierkegaard-godfather-authenticity">Søren Kierkegaard</a> and <a href="https://philosophybreak.com/articles/dichotomy-of-control-a-stoic-device-for-a-tranquil-mind/">ancient stoic Epictetus</a> emphasised the importance of tuning into your own inner life rather than being governed by external forces. They remind us that authenticity doesn’t come from performing joy for others, but from noticing what we need and choosing to honour it.</p>
<p>The key is alignment. Do what nourishes you, not what performs well on<br>
Instagram, and let the societal pressures wash over you rather than be driven by<br>
them.</p>
<h2>So what can help?</h2>
<p>Trying to “fix” loneliness with a to-do list isn’t the answer. It’s about tuning into what you need. These approaches are rooted in psychological and philosophical insight. They are not quick fixes.</p>
<p><strong>1. Let yourself feel it</strong></p>
<p>Loneliness hurts. It’s okay to name it. Pushing it away rarely works. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acceptance-Commitment-Therapy-Experiential-Approach/dp/1572309555">Accepting</a> and sitting with it can be the first step toward softening its grip.</p>
<p><strong>2. Create micro-rituals</strong></p>
<p>Small routines bring meaning and structure. Brew a<br>
particular tea. Rewatch a film that resonates. Light a candle for someone you miss. <a href="https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/norton%20gino%202014_e44eb177-f8f4-4f0d-a458-625c1268b391.pdf">Rituals</a> connect you to something larger but also connect you to yourself.</p>
<p><strong>3. Reframe connection</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15420847_The_Need_to_Belong_Desire_for_Interpersonal_Attachments_as_a_Fundamental_Human_Motivation">Closeness</a> doesn’t have to mean crowds. It might mean sending a message, joining a quiet online space or simply being present with yourself. Journaling, voice notes or reflective walks can all be forms of inward connection.</p>
<p><strong>4. Celebrate your uniqueness</strong></p>
<p>You are not a statistic. You don’t need to aim for the “<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10514023/">average</a>” mental health baseline. Your emotional life is yours alone. A little variation, a little eccentricity, these are signs of being alive.</p>
<p><strong>5. Find what works for you</strong></p>
<p>There’s no one right way to do Christmas. Whether it’s a solo walk, a day in pyjamas, or calling one person you trust, the point is to honour your <a href="https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/theory/">individuality</a>.</p>
<p>If you’re feeling out of step this Christmas, that doesn’t make you broken. It makes you aware. You’re noticing what’s missing; you are listening. That’s not weakness, it’s one of the greatest sources of wisdom.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/a/15793/9780241200131">The Book of Disquiet</a>, Portuguese poet and philosopher Fernando Pessoa wrote: “To feel today what one felt yesterday isn’t to feel – it’s to remember today what was felt yesterday, to be today’s living corpse of what yesterday was lived and lost.”</p>
<p>It’s a stark image, but a truthful one. At Christmas, we often try to summon old<br>
feelings, those of joy, warmth, and belonging, as if they can be reactivated on<br>
command. But what if we didn’t force it? Christmas doesn’t have to be remembered joy. It can be present truth.</p>
<p>Loneliness isn’t something to be solved or suppressed. It’s a companion on the<br>
journey inward.</p>
<p>And sometimes, the most meaningful connection we can make is with ourselves.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/to-feel-lonely-is-to-be-human-heres-how-to-handle-it-at-christmas-271652">original article</a>.</em></p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/study-finds-heavy-drinking-creates-a-blind-spot-for-angry-expressions/" 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 heavy drinking creates a blind spot for angry expressions</a>
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<p><p>A study investigating the effects of alcohol on emotion recognition and empathy found that alcohol impairs the recognition of anger, but not other specific emotions. Participants who drank alcohol also reported higher affective empathy, i.e., relating better to other study participants. The research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98153-2"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a>.</p>
<p>After a person drinks alcohol, it is rapidly absorbed through the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. The alcohol then travels to the brain, where it affects the release of neurotransmitters, producing relaxation and reduced inhibition. As blood alcohol concentration rises, judgment, coordination, and reaction time become increasingly impaired. The liver begins metabolizing alcohol, but it can only process a limited amount per hour, causing excess alcohol to circulate in the body.</p>
<p>Alcohol also affects the cardiovascular system by dilating blood vessels, which can create a sensation of warmth while actually lowering core body temperature. In the short term, drinking can increase urine production, leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. The gastrointestinal system may become irritated, resulting in nausea or vomiting at higher doses.</p>
<p>As alcohol continues to circulate, it disrupts normal sleep, reducing restorative REM sleep despite making people feel sleepy. When blood alcohol levels begin to fall, withdrawal-like symptoms such as anxiety or irritability may appear in some individuals.</p>
<p>Study author Lakshmi Kumar and their colleagues investigated how an intoxicating dose of alcohol (0.74 g/kg in females and 0.82 g/kg in males) affects cognitive and affective empathy. As prior studies were inconclusive, they started this investigation with no specific hypotheses about the directions of the expected effect.</p>
<p>Study participants were 156 individuals who reported drinking at least one day per week and binge drinking at least four times in the past month. Participants’ average age was 23 years. Thirty-one percent of participants were women.</p>
<p>Binge drinking was defined as 5 or more standard alcoholic drinks on the same occasion for men and 4 or more for women. A standard alcoholic drink is a drink containing about 14 grams of pure ethanol. This is roughly equivalent to a small beer (350 ml), a glass of wine (150 ml), or a shot of spirits (45 ml).</p>
<p>Participants were randomly assigned to groups of 3 unacquainted persons. Each of these 3-person groups was then randomly assigned to either drink an alcoholic beverage or a placebo beverage. In this way, 117 participants were assigned to drink alcohol and 39 to drink the placebo beverage. However, participants did not know which beverage they would be drinking – they all believed that they would be drinking alcohol.</p>
<p>The alcoholic beverage was a cranberry-vodka cocktail dosed for each participant to achieve a peak blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. The placebo drink was flattened tonic water, and study authors showed these participants false blood alcohol level recordings to maintain their belief that they were drinking alcohol.</p>
<p>After drinking the assigned drink, participants completed 3 assessments of subjective intoxication experience and blood alcohol level (using a breathalyzer) in 30-minute intervals. While the blood alcohol level was increasing after drinking, participants completed assessments of empathy and emotion recognition (MET and GERT, tests based on recognizing emotions of people in photographs and in short video clips).</p>
<p>Results showed that participants who drank alcohol had impaired recognition of anger, but no other specific emotions. These individuals also reported higher affective empathy, i.e., that they related well to another participant, in response to direct interactions with other participants.</p>
<p>“Findings suggest alcohol worsens anger recognition and increases perceptions of relating to another,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the psychological effects of alcohol. However, study authors note that participants interacted in groups of strangers (other study participants they were not previously acquainted with) prior to completing the emotion recognition and empathy assessments. Differences in these interaction experiences could have affected participants’ levels of engagement and subsequently reported empathy.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98153-2">Alcohol’s acute effects on emotion recognition and empathy in heavy-drinking young adults,</a>” was authored by Lakshmi Kumar, Kasey G. Creswell, Kirk W. Brown, Greta Lyons, and Brooke C. Feeney.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/researchers-find-reverse-sexual-double-standard-in-sextech-use/" 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;">Researchers find reverse sexual double standard in sextech use</a>
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<p><p>A new study published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2025.2586748" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Journal of Sex Research</a></em> has found that men who use sexual technology are viewed with more disgust than women who engage in the same behaviors. The findings indicate a “reverse sexual double standard” in which men face harsher social penalties for using devices like sex toys, chatbots, and robots, particularly as the technology becomes more humanlike. This research suggests that deep-seated gender norms continue to influence how society perceives sexual expression and the integration of technology into intimate lives.</p>
<p>The intersection of technology and human sexuality is expanding rapidly. Sex technology, or “sextech,” encompasses a wide range of devices designed to enhance sexual experiences. These range from traditional vibrators and dildos to advanced artificial intelligence chatbots and lifelike sex robots. Although the use of such devices is becoming increasingly common in solitary and partnered sexual activities, a social stigma remains attached to their use. Many users keep their habits discreet to avoid judgment.</p>
<p>Previous observations suggest that this stigma is not applied equally across genders. While the use of vibrators by women has been largely normalized and framed as a tool for empowerment or sexual wellness, men’s use of similar devices often lacks the same social acceptance. Media depictions frequently portray men who use sex robots or dolls as socially isolated or unable to form human connections.</p>
<p>“Anecdotally, but also in research, discussions around using sexech tend to highlight vibrator use as a positive and empowering addition to female sexuality, while the use of devices designed for male anatomy (like sex dolls or Fleshlights) is more often viewed negatively or as unnecessary,” said study author <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/madisonwilliamss/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Madison E. Williams</a>, a PhD student at the University of New Brunswick and member of <a href="https://www.sexmeetsrelationships.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Sex Meets Relationships Lab</a>.</p>
<p>“In the same vein, sex toys tend to be more socially accepted than more advanced forms of sextech (which are also typically marketed toward male users). Our study aimed to examine whether this apparent sexual double standard could be demonstrated empirically, and if women and men held different opinions.”</p>
<p>The researchers focused specifically on disgust, an emotion deeply linked to the avoidance of pathogens and the policing of social norms. Disgust serves as a psychological behavioral immune system, but it also reinforces moral boundaries. They proposed that sextech might trigger disgust by violating traditional sexual norms or by evoking the “uncanny valley” effect associated with humanlike robots.</p>
<p>A key rationale for the study was to understand how traditional gender scripts influence these perceptions. Conventional heterosexual scripts often position men as sexual experts who should always be ready for sex and capable of pursuing women. In this context, a man’s use of a sex toy might be interpreted as a failure to secure a human partner or a lack of sexual prowess.</p>
<p>To investigate these questions, the researchers recruited a sample of 371 adults through the crowdsourcing platform Prolific. The participants ranged in age from 18 to 81 years, with an average age of approximately 45. The sample was relatively balanced in terms of gender, consisting of 190 women and 181 men. The majority of participants identified as heterosexual and White.</p>
<p>The study employed a survey design to measure disgust sensitivity in response to specific scenarios. Participants were presented with six different items describing a person using sextech. These scenarios varied based on the gender of the user and the type of technology involved. The three types of technology assessed were sex toys, which represent the least humanlike option, erotic chatbots, which offer some conversational interaction, and sex robots, which are the most humanlike.</p>
<p>For each scenario, participants rated how disgusting they found the behavior on a scale from 1 to 7. A rating of 1 indicated “not at all disgusting,” while a rating of 7 indicated “extremely disgusting.” This measurement approach was adapted from established scales used to assess disgust sensitivity in other psychological research. The researchers compared these ratings to determine if the gender of the user or the type of device significantly influenced the emotional reaction of the observer.</p>
<p>The results provided clear evidence of a double standard. Across the board, participants rated men who used sextech as more disgusting than women who used the same devices. This effect was consistent regardless of the participant’s own gender. Both men and women viewed male sextech users more negatively. This confirms the hypothesis that men are penalized more heavily for incorporating technology into their sexual lives.</p>
<p>“Our findings suggest that men who use sex toys, exchange sexual messages with AI companions, or have sex with robots are perceived as more disgusting than women who engage in equivalent acts,” Williams told PsyPost. “This highlights a troubling double standard that penalizes men for using sexual devices, even though research has found they can offer both women and men similar sexual benefits.”</p>
<p>The study also found a clear hierarchy of disgust related to the type of device. Participants rated the use of simple sex toys as the least disgusting behavior. Engaging with an erotic chatbot elicited higher disgust ratings. The use of sex robots generated the strongest feelings of disgust. This supports the idea that as sexual technology becomes more humanlike, it triggers stronger negative emotional responses. This may be due to the eerie nature of artificial humans or concerns about technology replacing genuine human intimacy.</p>
<p>An interaction between the target’s gender and the type of device offered further nuance to the findings. The gap in disgust ratings between male and female users was widest regarding sex toys. While men were judged more harshly in all categories, the double standard was most pronounced for the simplest technology. As the technology became more advanced and stigmatized—such as with sex robots—the judgment became high for everyone, narrowing the gender gap slightly. However, men were still consistently rated as more disgusting than women even in the robot condition.</p>
<p>“Interestingly, although men were perceived to be more disgusting than women for their use of all forms of sextech, the gap was especially large for sex toys,” Williams said. “In other words, while overall reactions were generally more negative for more advanced technology like erotic chatbots and robots, the strongest gender difference appeared in the sex toy condition.”</p>
<p>The researchers also analyzed differences based on the gender of the participant. Consistent with previous psychological research on disgust sensitivity, women participants reported higher levels of disgust overall than men did. Women expressed stronger negative reactions to the depictions of sextech use across the scenarios. Despite this higher baseline of disgust among women, the pattern of judging men more harshly than women remained the same.</p>
<p>The researchers noted that while the double standard is statistically significant, the average disgust ratings were generally near the midpoint of the scale. The ratings indicate a moderate aversion that varies significantly based on context.</p>
<p>“It is important to note that for all items, disgust ratings remained around or below the midpoint of our scale – this indicates that while men were judged more harshly for their sextech use, these behaviours weren’t rated as extremely disgusting, overall,” Williams explained. “Additionally, people also considered women’s use of sextech to be somewhat disgusting, but on average men were judged more negatively.”</p>
<p>As with all research, there are some limitations to consider. The research relied on self-reported data, which can be influenced by social desirability bias. Participants might have modulated their answers to appear more open-minded or consistent with perceived norms. Additionally, the sample was predominantly heterosexual and Western. Perceptions of sextech and gender roles likely vary across different cultures and sexual orientations.</p>
<p>The study also measured disgust as a general concept without distinguishing between different types. Disgust can be driven by concerns about hygiene, violations of moral codes, or aversion to specific sexual acts. It is unclear which of these specific domains was the primary driver of the negative ratings. Future research could investigate whether the disgust comes from a perceived lack of cleanliness, a sense of unnaturalness, or a moral judgment against the user’s character.</p>
<p>The researchers suggest that future studies should explore how these perceptions change over time. As artificial intelligence and robotics become more integrated into daily life, the stigma surrounding their use in sexual contexts may shift. Longitudinal research could track whether familiarity with these technologies reduces the disgust response. It would also be beneficial to examine whether the context of use matters. For example, using a device alone versus using it with a partner might elicit different social judgments.</p>
<p>“We hope this work encourages more open, evidence-based conversations about men’s use of sextech, with the ultimate goal of reducing the stigma surrounding it,” Williams said. “Understanding that this double standard exists is the first step to normalizing and accepting all forms of sextech use, by all genders.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2025.2586748" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gross Double Standard! Men Using Sextech Elicit Stronger Disgust Ratings Than Do Women</a>,” was authored by Madison E. Williams, Gabriella Petruzzello, and Lucia F. O’Sullivan.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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