Watching people touch can trigger physical reactions in our own bodies, study finds
Even when we merely observe two people touching, our own bodies can respond physically, new research shows. The findings could in the future help researchers develop therapies for people with hypersensitivity or an aversion to touch.
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Spreading conspiracy theories ‘builds inter-group hatred’
Conspiracy theories can fuel hatred and hostility between social groups while also increasing feelings of threat, fear and distrust, according to psychologists from the Institute of Psychology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
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Procrastination is best combated with positive reinforcement, Polish research shows
Changing the emotional response to a task and using positive reinforcement while completing it may be among the most effective ways to combat procrastination, according to researchers from the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology.
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To Be Like Maria Skłodowska-Curie. A Virtual Experiment Challenges Stereotypes About Women in STEM
Meeting women who have achieved success in science or learning about their stories may not be sufficient to challenge stereotypes about women in STEM. The researchers therefore investigated whether a more effective approach might be to embody the Polish Nobel laureate Maria Skłodowska-Curie in virtual reality. They found that this experience weakened automatic associations linking science with men.
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Hard worker or workaholic? Psychologists reveal the difference
Working long hours, answering emails at night and even doing professional duties during holidays do not necessarily make someone a workaholic. The crucial difference is whether they are driven by genuine engagement or by an internal compulsion, psychologists at Jagiellonian University say.
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Taboos ‘protect communities’ from risk of disease, losses, and social conflict
Taboos can act as cultural protective mechanisms that reduce the risk of disease, help people survive in difficult environments, strengthen social bonds and define boundaries between groups, says psychologist Michał Misiak, PhD, from the University of Wrocław, who is leading an international study of taboos in different cultures.
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Researchers investigate how brains of blind people develop
A Polish-German research team has used advanced imaging techniques to study how the brain develops in people who are born blind, finding that structural differences in the visual cortex are linked to reduced myelination rather than clear changes in the process of neural pruning.
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Connected but divided: How social media may fuel polarization.
Social media may be driving society further apart by reshaping the way people connect, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
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Smartphone 'phubbing' during pregnancy linked to postpartum depression symptoms
Feeling ignored by a partner distracted by a smartphone during pregnancy may be linked to more severe postpartum depression symptoms, a study involving Polish researchers suggests.
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Slim candidates win out in hiring decisions, even with identical qualifications, study finds
More than eight in 10 people taking part in a recruitment experiment preferred slim candidates over overweight applicants when presented with identical qualifications, according to a Polish study highlighting the hidden impact of weight bias in the workplace.
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Polish scientists supercharge probiotic to fight Salmonella
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Watching people touch can trigger physical reactions in our own bodies, study finds
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