evolution | SPSP

A Smile by Any Other Name Wouldn’t Look as Sweet

What’s in a smile? Perhaps more than you think…

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Can People Read Others’ Personalities from Their Faces?

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Yes, but only up to a point.

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Don’t Talk Behind My Back!

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Hearing a message coming from behind us makes us perceive it more negatively than if the message came from a different direction.

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What do Men and Women Want in a Mate?

The things we look for in a romantic partner are shaped by both evolution and society.

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People: Nicer Than You Think

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Most people believe that their fellow human beings are inherently selfish. But recent research suggests that we human beings are a lot kinder and more helpful than most people think.

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Next! ... When Pursuit for “The Best” Can Undermine Your Romantic Relationships

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People who strive to make the best choices in life may be vulnerable to experiencing discontent in their relationships.

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What Can Serial Killers Like Amy Archer-Gilligan Tell Us about Human Evolution?

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Serial killers—yes, serial killers—may tell us something important about human evolution. Some hunt; others appear to gather.

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Good Reads: How Marsh’s Fear Factor Will Calm Your Worst Fears - Review of Abigail Marsh‘s The Fear Factor

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What do psychopaths and altruists have in common? According to Abigail Marsh’s eye-opening book, The Fear Factor, one answer is that they both have highly unusual brains – at least in one small but very important area.

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Overcoming the Biases That Come Between Us

Elvis counsels, “Before you abuse, criticize, and accuse … walk a mile in my shoes.” Dylan wishes, “For just one time, you could stand inside my shoes.” Paul McCartney asks us once again to try to see it his way. If you are The King, a Nobel laureate, or a knight—not to mention a rock star—perhaps it is reasonable to expect that everyone else should take your perspective. For the rest of us, if we hope that “we can work it out,” it seems vital for us to try harder and try smarter to understand others—especially these days.

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Psychology News Round-Up: ICYMI June 16, 2017

Each week, we recap featured posts from Character & Context and other blogs around the cyberspace, plus news stories and tweets worth a look. If you have an item you'd like us to consider, use the hashtag #SPSPblog or tweet us directly @spspnews.

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