Psychology news archive 2022
£2.4million to fund largest-ever trial of ketamine-assisted therapy for alcohol disorder
A new £2.4 million phase III trial delivered across seven NHS sites across the UK will investigate whether ketamine-assisted therapy could help alcoholics stay off alcohol for longer.
New research finds that social group values are most readable in the way we write
Linguistic style can offer a clearer insight into the value and principles of a social group compared to what they say about themselves.
Female monkeys ‘actively reduce’ social network as they age
Female rhesus macaques “actively reduce” their social networks and prioritise friends and family as they get older, new research shows.
Primate study ties importance of social environment to molecular markers of age in the brain
As people age, maintaining a positive and predictable social environment becomes more and more important.
Children motivated by morality rather than social norms when it comes to the question of eating animals
Concenrs over animal welfare the chief driver of children's attitudes to meat-eating
Bumblebees revisit favourite flowers as sun sets
As the sun sets, bumblebees revisit "profitable" flowers they encountered during the day, new research suggests.
Positive childhood experiences of blue spaces linked to better adult well-being
New study concludes that adults with better mental health are more likely to report spending time around coastal waters, rivers and lakes as children.
Family ties give animals reasons to 'help or harm' as they age
The structure of family groups gives animals an incentive to help or harm their social group as they age, new research shows.
Bees use patterns – not just colours – to find flowers
Honeybees rely heavily on flower patterns when searching for food, new research shows.
Research reveals potentially life-changing impact of internet forums on those in remission from opioid use disorder
Active participation in internet forums has the potential to provide life-changing social benefits and wellbeing for people who are in remission from opioid use disorder
New website helps people consider ‘‘what can blue do for you?’’
A new website has been launched to help connect people with blue spaces at home, especially those with experience of mental health conditions.
£850,000 NIHR funding for new Exeter bipolar research
More than £850,000 from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) will fund University of Exeter research into treatment for people living with bipolar, aimed at developing new talking therapies.
Breakthrough in understanding why we struggle to recognise the faces of people from different racial backgrounds
Cognitive Psychologists at the University of Exeter believe they have discovered the answer to a 60-year-old question as to why people find it more difficult to recognise faces from visually distinct racial backgrounds than they do their own.
Swans sacrifice rest to squabble
Swans give up resting time to fight over the best feeding spots, new research shows.
Who wants to be a billionaire? Most don’t – which is good news for the planet
A new study busts the long-held economic belief that humans are all motivated to want more and more, which could have important implications for sustainability policies.
Satellites and drones can help save pollinators
Satellites and drones can provide key information to protect pollinators, researchers say.
Asking for ideas boosts collective action
Members of minority groups can boost collective action by seeking the ideas and perspectives of fellow group members, new research shows.
South West survey to boost Pacific plastic project
People in the South West of England can help researchers tackle plastic pollution locally – and thousands of miles away – by completing a short survey.
Switching social identities happens seamlessly
People can switch seamlessly between different social identities, new research shows.
Medical equality undermined by mistaken male doctors
Progress on gender equality in the medical profession could be hampered by male doctors who overestimate female representation, researchers say.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy benefits people with depression through promoting self-kindness
New research shows that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can help promote self-kindness in people with a history of depression.
Exeter professor named among most influential women in psychedelics
University of Exeter Professor Celia Morgan has been named as one of the 16 most influential women shaping the future of psychedelics, by global news publication Insider.
More research needed into negative effects of loneliness, say experts
A new report has highlighted where more research is needed into the negative effects of loneliness on the UK’s population.
Hurricane may have caused 'accelerated ageing' among monkeys
Monkeys that survived a major hurricane show signs of "accelerated ageing", according to new research.
Zoo enrichment could go further
Zoos and aquariums could improve the lives of a wider range of their animals, new research suggests.
New project to provide evidence on hormone therapy for transgender people
A new project will provide transgender people with evidence-based information on what to expect when undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT).
Ketamine and psychological therapy helped severe alcoholics abstain for longer in trial
People with severe alcohol disorder were able to stay off alcohol for longer when they were treated with low doses of ketamine combined with psychological therapy in a clinical trial.
Pheasants lose their cool after fighting
Pheasants' heads cool rapidly as they prepare to fight – then heat up afterwards, new research shows.
Children think farm animals deserve same treatment as pets
Children differ dramatically from adults in their moral views on animals, new research shows.
New research finds that social group values are most readable in the way we write
Linguistic style can offer a clearer insight into the value and principles of a social group compared to what they say about themselves.