Researchers have discovered that the brain's reward system plays a crucial role in integrating personal and others' preferences to make decisions that optimize mutual benefit. Using brain imaging techniques, the study found that the reward system is active in tracking personal preferences and integrating the preferences of others to maximize welfare for all involved parties. This research sheds light on the neural pathways involved in decision-making that considers conflicting interests for the mutual benefit of everyone.
Recent research from UT Austin, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, indicates that people tend to overestimate the negative judgment they will face when revealing secrets. The study, involving 12 experiments, found that recipients of disclosed secrets judged the sharers less harshly than expected, viewing them as more honest and trustworthy. This suggests that fears of judgment may be a barrier to transparency in relationships, and that encouraging more realistic expectations could lead to increased openness and reduced psychological burden associated with keeping secrets.
Gender and education, rather than political beliefs, are significant factors in people’s social skills, according to a study of 4,000 UK participants. Being female and educated are the biggest determinants of the capacity to understand others, a psychological concept known as ‘theory of mind’. Political views showed no correlation with understanding others. Older participants generally showed a decreased ability to understand others, highlighting age as a factor that can impact social cognitive abilities.
