I checked 15 psychology journals on Friday, August 28, 2026 using the Crossref API. For the period August 21 to August 27, I found 27 new paper(s) in 10 journal(s).

Behavior Research Methods

MEYELens: An affordable, open-source, 3D-printable eyewear platform for pupillometry and gaze tracking
Giacomo Vecchieschi, Letizia Ingenito, Alessandro Benedetto, Caterina Luciani, Fabio Carrara, Giovanni Cioni, Andrea Guzzetta, Tommaso Pizzorusso, Laura Baroncelli, Raffaele M. Mazziotti
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Pupillometry and gaze tracking provide sensitive, noninvasive indices of autonomic function and cognitive state and are increasingly employed in neuroscience and clinical research. However, commonly used systems remain costly and often constrain hardware customization and workflow transparency. MEYELens is presented as an open-source, fully 3D-printable wearable system for low-cost pupillometry and gaze tracking using readily available components. The design is modular and mechanically adjustable to accommodate different users and experimental requirements. An open pipeline is provided for data acquisition and for both offline and online analysis. Feasibility is demonstrated across frequency-based and task-evoked pupillary paradigms, and gaze mapping is shown to operate in both screen-based and naturalistic settings. By combining affordability, modular hardware, and open software, MEYELens reduces barriers to reliable eye-based measurement and supports methodological development in resource-constrained research contexts.
Measuring surprisal in sound sequences
Andrey Anikin
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Sensory input that violates prior expectations attracts attention, making unpredictability an important perceptual property to measure. In the auditory modality, knowing what sounds will be perceived as surprising, and therefore salient, is relevant both for studying vocal communication and for applied purposes such as managing noise pollution. Focusing on sequences of animal vocalizations and environmental sounds as ecologically important acoustic stimuli, I describe and benchmark several algorithms for measuring their perceived unpredictability. Information-theoretical approaches include Shannon surprisal and Bayesian surprise, both implemented here to detect deviant stimuli based on distributional acoustic properties. The second group of algorithms is based on detecting spectro-temporal recurrence assessed with autocorrelation functions (ACF surprisal) and self-similarity matrices (SSM novelty). The third approach uses neural networks. Based on the ratings of the predictability of 300 synthetic acoustic sequences by 195 human listeners, Shannon surprisal and SSM novelty capture the perceived unpredictability that is due to spectral variability, whereas ACF surprisal taps into the perceptual impact of irregular rhythm. Most algorithms converge on the time scale of about 1 s as the most perceptually relevant for spectral variability, which is consistent with the hypothesis that the perception of unpredictability stems from a relatively limited amount of auditory input held in short-term memory. Together, the presented open-source algorithms offer powerful and flexible tools for measuring acoustic surprisal and studying auditory attention, while the corpus of predictability ratings offers a resource for future benchmarking. All code and data are freely available from the R package soundgen and supplementary materials at https://osf.io/bgzvc .
Quantifying the dyadic interaction: A methodological framework for conducting observational moment-by-moment research
Diego FernĂĄndez-Regueras, M. Cristina Guerrero-Escagedo, Ana Calero-Elvira, Eduardo Estrada
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Systematic observation is a valuable method for studying interactive phenomena in dyads, as it captures sequences of behavior, potentially enhancing validity. However, observational studies remain underutilized compared with other tools, such as self-report questionnaires, because they require time and resources. This work aims to facilitate observational research by providing a step-by-step guide for preprocessing and exploring data from systematic observations, enabling flexible data handling beyond traditional sequential analyses. To illustrate the guide’s application, we used a dataset of 154 psychotherapy sessions collected longitudinally across different treatment phases from 32 patient–therapist dyads. We coded sessions using the Therapeutic Relationship Coding System (TRCS), which captures moment-by-moment verbal interactions relevant to the therapeutic alliance. Post-session questionnaire data were collected using the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI). An R script and a set of functions were developed to assist researchers with data preprocessing and to generate descriptive visualizations addressing the following questions: (1) What behaviors (and sequences of interacting behaviors) are more frequent? ; (2) How do behaviors evolve over time ; (3) Do behavioral changes differ across groups? After applying our proposed analytical tools, we interpret our results in light of the dominant theoretical framework on the therapeutic alliance.
Tetrix: A novel Tetris-based paradigm for neuroimaging research and clinical applications
Julius Grote, Julia Elina Stocker, Jens Sommer, Anna-Maria Hamm, Henrik Kessler, Andreas Jansen
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Tetris is a widely used computer game, not only for entertainment purposes but increasingly in cognitive and clinical neuroscience research. Despite its frequent application in experiments, the neural mechanisms underlying gameplay remain insufficiently understood. Prior work suggests that cognitive control during complex visuospatial tasks, like Tetris, engages the attention network as well as regions supporting visuospatial working memory, mental imagery, and motor planning. However, researchers currently lack a standardized paradigm to investigate these processes. To address this gap, we introduce Tetrix, a novel and flexible Tetris-based paradigm designed for use in behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments. With a broad range of customizable features, Tetrix can be adapted to specific experimental requirements or used in its default configuration. To validate the paradigm’s feasibility for neuroimaging applications, we conducted a proof-of-concept fMRI study with six participants. Results revealed robust bilateral activity in the frontal eye fields and posterior parietal cortex – key nodes of the dorsal attention network. Additional activation was found in the cerebellum and occipital cortex. These regions are thought to support rapid spatial orienting, the encoding and maintenance of visuospatial working memory, and motor planning. The observed activation patterns therefore align with theoretical expectations and confirm Tetrix’s utility for probing relevant cognitive functions in fMRI. Moreover, the pilot dataset and corresponding effect size maps provide a valuable resource for estimating statistical power in future research. In summary, this article introduces Tetrix as a standardized and validated paradigm for functional neuroimaging and beyond. It is available at: https://github.com/JuliusGrote/Tetrix_Psychopy .

Computers in Human Behavior

Generic title: Not a research article
Corrigendum to ‘Psychological need experiences inside and outside gaming as predictors of adolescent problematic gaming and well-being: A longitudinal test of the Need Density Hypothesis’ [Computers in Human Behavior 186 (2026) 109140]
Lowie Bradt, Maarten Vansteenkiste, Marlies Van de Casteele, Bieke Zaman, Eva Grosemans, Rozane De Cock, Bart Soenens
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The Role of Attention and Norm Perception in Online Comments’ Impact on Attitudes toward Sunscreen: An Eye-Tracking Approach
Junhan Chen, Shilin Xia, Zexin Ma
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How conversation content and style shape service evaluations: Evidence from a dual-pathway mediation model and neural processing
Yebing Li, Fenghua Wang, Jia Jin, Yu Pan
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See what you see, hear what you hear: Theorizing AI Device Embodiment (ADE) and its effects on well-being, perceived social support, and adoption
Jih-Hsuan (Tammy) Lin, Huai-yu Chen, Ji-Wei Yang
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Understanding the temporal dynamics of user experience in VR gaming: Evidence from large-scale game reviews
Hyunmin Kang, Stefan Pasch, Min Chul Cha
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Group Processes & Intergroup Relations

Schools’ Respect for Identity-Based Differences and Student Outcomes: Examining the Relationship among Students with Varying Numbers of Marginalized Identities
Kimberly A. Bourne, Katherine T. Foster, Annie X. Xu, Cynthia S. Levine
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When schools value diversity, students with marginalized identities exhibit better academic and well-being outcomes. However, most work focuses on one identity dimension (e.g., race, sexuality) at a time. Using data from the California Healthy Kids Survey ( N = 205,064 students in 6th–12th grade across 751 schools), we examined how the number of marginalized identities students held, schools’ respect for identity-based differences, and the interaction between these factors were associated with multiple outcomes (e.g., belonging, grades, and reported suicidality). Looking across multiple dimensions of marginalization (i.e., race, income, gender identity, sexual orientation, and language spoken at home), we found that 1) more marginalized identities predicted worse outcomes, 2) greater school respect for differences predicted better outcomes, and 3) this association was stronger among students with fewer marginalized identities for some outcomes but equally strong across all students for others. These results highlight the importance of respect for identity-based differences for all students.
Economic Inequality is Masculine: High Vertical Pay Gap Fuels Expectations for Gender Discrimination via Inferred Masculinity Norms
Silvia Filippi, Matilde Tumino, Luciana Carraro, Caterina Suitner
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Gender discrimination remains a major obstacle to workplace equality. While various factors contribute to this issue, organizational structures that reinforce hierarchical, male-dominated cultures may indicate that gender discrimination is widespread and normative. This research examines how vertical pay gaps—the wage gap between top earners and other employees—are used by employees as cues for organizational norms, which in turn shape perceptions and expectations of workplace gender discrimination. Study 1 ( N = 410, cross-sectional) shows that women report higher levels of perceived gender discrimination in organizations with greater pay inequality. In Studies 2a and 2b ( N total = 711, preregistered experiments), we manipulate vertical pay gap and confirm its impact on discrimination expectations. Importantly, this effect is mediated by the perception that unequal organizations foster a masculine workplace climate, reinforcing norms such as dominance, competition, and strength. These findings demonstrate that economic inequality fosters an organizational climate that disadvantages women. Reducing pay disparities through wage caps may promote a more inclusive work climate.

Journal of Experimental Social Psychology

Can bad guys count as happy? The graded moralization of happiness across general and episodic levels
Jiangyong Li, Huaiyuan Qi, Jing Long, Yangmei Luo
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Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Insights into growth mindsets over time: People with growth versus fixed mindsets grow increasingly negative in their reactions to others’ repeated failures.
Samantha Zaw, Laura E. Wallace, Ed O'Brien
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Multivariate Behavioral Research

Modeling Between-Group Differences in Dynamics of Psychological Constructs in the Presence of Measurement Non-Invariance: A Stepwise Approach
Manuel T. Rein, Leonie V. D. E. Vogelsmeier, Jeroen K. Vermunt, Eeske van Roekel, Kim De Roover
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Exploratory Continuous-Time Modeling (Expct): Extracting Dynamic Features from Irregularly Spaced Time Series
OisĂ­n Ryan, Kejin Wu, Nicholas C. Jacobson
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Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

The Eras of Singlehood: 11-Year Longitudinal Trajectories of Never-Married Singles’ Well-Being Across Cohorts
Elaine Hoan, Geoff MacDonald, Matthew D. Johnson
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Lifespan theories often frame partnership and marriage as central life goals, while largely overlooking those who never marry. The present study examined 11-year trajectories (2009/2010–2020/2021) of never-married German singles across three birth cohorts ( N = 2,930; ages 18–48). Using latent class growth analysis, we modeled trajectories of life satisfaction, singlehood satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and desire for a partner. Most never-married singles reported consistently high and relatively stable life satisfaction. In contrast, singlehood satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and partner desire showed greater heterogeneity, with classes differing mainly in baseline levels and remaining stable over time. Trajectories with the highest well-being were more highly educated, extraverted, more likely to be employed full-time, and lower in neuroticism. Interestingly, trajectories with the strongest partner desire showed lower education levels and higher agreeableness. Altogether, while singles report diverse romantic and sexual experiences, singles still report satisfaction with their lives generally.
The Lay Belief That There is Virtue in Duty and Duty in Virtue: A Novel Lens for Viewing Moral Judgment
Hajin Kim, Julian J. Zlatev, Dale T. Miller
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We praise the performance of virtuous acts (e.g., composting) and condemn the failure to perform dutiful ones (e.g., littering). Importantly, however, moral acts may contain elements of both virtue and duty. Composting elicits praise, but not composting may also elicit condemnation. Across six studies, we show that a bivalent measure of moral evaluations (assessing the blame or praise for both doing and not doing the same act) allows for more accurate predictions of moral behaviors and provides possible explanations for various existing moral puzzles. Studies 1a to 1c demonstrate that the moral evaluations for, and emotional responses to, doing and not doing an act are not systematically related. Bivalent moral evaluations illuminate why Republicans were less likely to mask than Democrats during the COVID-19 pandemic (Study 2) and why financial compensation can reduce blood donations (Study 3). These evaluations improve predictions of intended blood donations (Study 3) and actual voting behavior (Study 4).
Unequal Burdens, Unequal Benefits: Housework, Mental Load, and Gendered Satisfaction in Heterosexual Relationships
Verena Klein, Esra Ascigil, Tanja Oschatz, Rotem Kahalon
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Despite growing attention to unequal housework distribution, the cognitive and emotional demands—collectively referred to as mental load—remain underexplored in relationship research. Across two studies, we examined how mental load distribution in heterosexual couples relates to women’s relationship and sexual satisfaction. In Study 1 ( N = 452), women reported greater satisfaction when male partners contributed more to mental load, especially to emotional labor. Mental load was a stronger predictor of satisfaction than physical housework and women’s gender ideology, suggesting that even egalitarian women disproportionately shoulder this often-invisible labor. Study 2 ( N = 156 couples) used dyadic data and found women’s satisfaction increased with shared mental load, while men’s satisfaction was higher when their female partners took on a greater share. These gendered patterns were observed for both relationship and sexual outcomes. Our findings underscore the importance of recognizing mental load as a distinct factor in understanding gender inequality in intimate relationships.

Psychological Science

A Single Dimension of Memory Strength Underlies Semantic and Phonological False Memories
Lyulei Zhang, Adam F. Osth
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False memory can arise from semantically or perceptually similar experiences, as demonstrated in the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm. Although semantic and phonological DRM tasks yield parallel false-recognition patterns, researchers have argued that they reflect distinct memory processes, based in part on findings that semantic associates elicit more false “remember” (R) judgments, whereas phonological associates elicit more false “know” (K) judgments. We directly tested this claim using semantic and phonological DRM tasks with old-new recognition followed by RK ratings ( N = 227 English-speaking students from an Australian university). The R/K dissociation was replicated, yet both parametric and nonparametric analyses revealed a single underlying dimension. A signal-detection-theory model fitted the data nearly perfectly, where R judgments reflected a stricter response criterion than K. A state-trace analysis likewise showed a monotonic relation between old/new and R false alarms across tasks. These results challenge dual-process interpretations, instead suggesting that semantic materials simply produce higher rates of false recognition.
Ties That Bind, Places That Matter: The Life-Satisfaction Gap Between Partnered and Single Individuals Varies Across Regions
Tita Gonzalez Avilés, Franz J. Neyer, Peter J. Rentfrow, Tobias Ebert
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People in romantic relationships often report higher life satisfaction than single individuals. We propose that this life-satisfaction gap reflects, in part, alignment with the prevailing norm of being in a relationship. In a preregistered study with a large-scale data set ( N = 382,078 adults across 379 regions in Great Britain), we replicated prior findings: partnered (vs. single) individuals reported higher life satisfaction. Notably, this life-satisfaction gap varied by region, being larger in regions with higher relationship rates and smaller in regions with lower relationship rates. This effect persisted after we controlled for various confounds; it passed robustness checks and replicated at a smaller scale across 218 London neighborhoods. Together, our findings emphasize the importance of situating relationship experiences within their geographic contexts, offering new insights into where and why differences in life satisfaction between partnered and single individuals emerge.
The WHO Said What? Interaction of Source Credibility and Readers’ Prior Beliefs in the Reading of Social-Media Posts
Oskari J. Virtanen, Johanna K. Kaakinen
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Evaluating sources is an essential skill in our misinformation-riddled media environment. However, previous studies suggest that people tend not to engage with source information during reading, and very little research exists on how source credibility and readers’ beliefs interact on social media. We examined how source credibility and prior beliefs affect reading social-media posts. Finnish university students ( N = 83) first filled out a questionnaire measuring beliefs on eight controversial topics and then read 76 mock-up tweets on these topics while their eye movements were recorded. The sources of the tweets were pretested to be either credible or noncredible sources for the topic. Eye-movement results indicate that when credible sources say something belief-inconsistent, or if noncredible sources something belief-consistent, reading of the tweet is slower, and more attention is paid to the sources. Findings suggest that these “source-belief” inconsistencies disrupt reading and elicit deeper processing of source information.
What Survivors Remembered: Cognitive and Experiential Themes in Trauma Narratives From the Deadliest Mass Shooting in Modern American History
William B. Ridgway, Kevin D. Mohawk, Rhiannon N. Soriano Smith, Renato M. Liboro, Charles A. Morgan, Stephen D. Benning, Colleen M. Parks
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This study examined cognitive and experiential patterns in the trauma narratives of 42 survivors (74% women; M age = 42.1) of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting, the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. We conducted a codebook thematic analysis of written narratives collected within one month of the event. We developed four themes: contextual memory (sensory-perceptual features, time, and space), physical injury, heroism, and contemplating mortality. Survivors recalled vivid sensory impressions, detailed spatial awareness organized around escape, and temporal distortions, including both subjective slowing and sequence gaps. Accounts of graphic injury, prosocial action under fire, and direct confrontation with death further structured the narratives. Limitations include prompted rather than free recall, written self-report allowing revision, and a predominantly female sample. These findings add to the scant literature on mass-shooting survivors’ memories.

Psychology of Music

Music Preferences in Depression Inclination: Aesthetic Disconnection From Happy Music and Emotional Affinity for Sadness
Yuqing Zhang, Shulan Tu, Linshu Zhou, Chao Xue
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Music plays a central role in emotion regulation, yet little is known about how this process unfolds in individuals with depression inclination (DI). This study explores the emotional music preferences and psychological mechanisms in DI individuals and healthy controls (HC). A total of 112 DI individuals and 133 HC participants, comparable in age, gender, handedness, education, and music training, rated their preferences for happy, sad, and neutral music in both subjective and objective contexts and provided explanations for their preferences. We compared emotional music preferences between groups and analyzed the reasons using psycholinguistic and semantic network analyses. Results showed that DI individuals preferred sad music more and happy music less than HC. DI participants used more emotion-related language, especially negative affective terms, and disliked happy music due to misalignment with their aesthetic preferences, while sad music resonated with their mood. HC favored happy music for its mood-enhancing effects and demonstrated more flexibility in music choices, often influenced by situational factors. Despite differences, both groups shared motivations, such as enhancing positive emotions and avoiding discomfort. These findings highlight distinct emotional processing in DI and HC, supporting mood-congruence and emotion-regulation theories, and offer insights into identifying depressive tendencies through music preferences.
The Impact of Music Instrumental Training and Second-Language Learning as Extracurricular Activities on Children’s Well-Being: A Randomised Controlled Study From a Positive Psychology Perspective
Claudia María Fernåndez de Cañete García, Pastora Martínez Castilla, Graham Welch
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This study explores the effects of nearly 7 months of extracurricular music instrumental training and second-language learning on psychological well-being among Year 4 children (8-year-old+) from middle socioeconomic backgrounds in Spain. A randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with 70 participants assigned to one of three conditions: Music (individual or group lessons), English (individual or group), and Control. Subjective well-being, overall life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and positive and negative affect were assessed before and after the intervention programme. Results revealed a positive effect of the group music instrumental condition on psychological well-being, with this group being the only one presenting lower baseline psychological well-being scores. Moreover, the control group experienced a significant decline in psychological well-being from pre- to post-intervention, a change not observed in any of the intervention groups. This study represents the first attempt in the literature to assess with a RCT the effect of music instrumental training on standardised well-being constructs – rather than isolated well-being measures – from a positive psychology perspective. We interpret the findings with consideration to baseline differences and the sensitivity of some well-being measures. Further research is needed to replicate these results and explore their implications with other interventions.
Structural Equation Modeling of Burnout, Support, and Retention Among Higher-Education Music Faculty Through Job Demands-Resources Framework and Self-Determination Theory
Hamidreza Niknampour
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I investigated how job demands, institutional resources, and psychological needs shape well-being and retention among higher-education music faculty in the United States. Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), I analyzed survey data from 204 faculty across 184 accredited music institutions using factor and structural equation modeling. The final model demonstrated good fit and revealed that higher workload increased burnout, while institutional support was associated with burnout and positively related to intentions to remain in academia. Burnout partially mediated the relationship between workload and support on retention. Full-time and tenured faculty reported greater workload but also higher support and lower burnout than contingent colleagues, while younger faculty showed slightly greater instructional adaptability. These exploratory findings highlighted institutional support as the most powerful predictor of well-being and persistence, suggesting that supportive and inclusive environments can counteract the strain of heavy workloads.

Psychology of Popular Media

Social media, racialized appearance concerns, and well-being among adolescent girls of color in the United States and England.
L. Monique Ward, Elizabeth A. Daniels, Morgan Jerald, Kyla N. Brathwaite
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Adolescents’ appearance-related social media consciousness and photo-related behaviors are linked to social anxiety symptoms with peers digitally and in-person: An ecological momentary assessment study.
Adelaide E. Graham, Margaret V. Brehm, Zelal Kilic, Sophia Choukas-Bradley, Jacqueline L. Nesi, Cecile D. Ladouceur, Jennifer S. Silk
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Selfies’ effects on the self: An experimental study of the influence of beauty filters on body image.
Irene Razpurker-Apfeld, Nurit Tal-Or
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