Science & the Big Questions

Social Ties Among Spotted Hyenas Passed Down From Generation to Generation

A new study of social relations among spotted hyenas could offer insights into the evolution of social relations among humans.

UPI

Topics: Animal Studies Social Networks Social Relationships

Emotions Get Better With Age

As people grow older, they gain greater control of their feelings. How do they do that — and can they teach young whippersnappers a thing or two?

Knowable Magazine

Topics: Aging Emotion Happiness Social Relationships

Dolphins Learn the ‘Names’ of Their Friends to Form Teams — a First in Animal Kingdom

Findings reveal the marine mammals have a sense of team membership.

Science

Topics: Animal Studies Cooperation Social Networks Social Relationships

How Gratitude Makes You More Attractive

New research shows that having an attitude of gratitude is key to healthy relationships, and it can virally impact society.

Freethink

Topics: Emotion Gratitude Social Networks Social Relationships

What Chimpanzees Can Teach Us About Human Friendships

Changes in social relationships over the apes’ lifetimes provide clues about both animal and human cognition.

Scientific American

Topics: Aging Animal Studies Cognition Human Uniqueness Social Behavior Social Networks Social Relationships

Living With Strangers

Mark Moffett — who studies, among other things, the social behavior of ants — discusses how human beings adapted to interact and live with strangers in large societies.

Character & Context, Society for Personality and Social Psychology

Topics: Animal Studies Group Identity Social Relationships

Making Nice

APS Observer

Topics: Altruism David DeSteno Emotion Flourishing Gratitude Happiness Social Relationships

Do Apologies Even Matter?

Science is finally proving that the act of apologizing can save and strengthen a relationship that’s been damaged by conflict.

Freethink

Topics: Cooperation Forgiveness Group Identity Morality Social Relationships Trust

The Need to Touch

The language of touch binds our minds and bodies to the broader social world. What happens when touch becomes taboo?

Aeon

Topics: Emotion Social Relationships

Like Humans, Male Chimps Mellow With Age

Findings could provide clues to the roots of human aging behavior patterns.

Science

Topics: Aging Animal Studies Cooperation Human Uniqueness Social Behavior Social Relationships

National Well-Being Before and During the Pandemic

The toll of COVID-19 on flourishing.

Human Flourishing, Psychology Today

Topics: Flourishing Happiness Meaning Purpose Social Relationships

‘Playful Teasing’ in Apes Could Provide Clues to the Evolutionary Roots of Early Humor

Anthropologist Erica Cartmill explores jokelike behaviors in our evolutionary cousins.

Science

Topics: Animal Studies Bonding Language Social Cognition Social Relationships

In the Midst of the Pandemic, Loneliness Has Leveled Out

Studies suggest that we are finding ways to connect even amid quarantine.

Mind Matters, Scientific American

Topics: Loneliness Social Relationships

When Push Comes to Shove, Loyalty Trumps Justice

Participants indicated that they would protect relationship partners more than strangers, and this discrepancy increased with the severity of the crime.

Character & Context, Society for Personality and Social Psychology

Topics: Honesty Morality Social Relationships

Want to Be Happier? Evidence-Based Tricks to Get You There

Laurie Santos, the host of The Happiness Lab podcast, shares the science of cultivating gratitude and reframing positive thinking.

Life Kit, NPR

Topics: Gratitude Happiness Social Relationships

Mindfully Observing Your Thoughts and Emotions May Promote Forgiveness

It’s hard to let it go when other people hurt us, but mindfulness may help.

Character & Context, Society for Personality and Social Psychology

Topics: Forgiveness Social Relationships

The Natural Origins of Obligation

Michael Tomasello argues that obligation emerges fundamentally from the shared sense of an interdependent “we,” which entails a shared intentionality to collaborate together toward a common goal, often with distinct roles and responsibilities for different partners.

Science on Religion

Topics: Cooperation Morality Social Relationships