Religion/Spirituality

People’s Notions of a Perfect Life are Surprisingly Modest

Illustration of white picket fence in front of a green field and blue sky with clouds

When I was a kid I was always fascinated by genie-in-the-bottle scenarios, where people could choose three wishes. It’s a question that’s exciting but also weirdly stressful to ponder. If there were no limits to how you lived your life – if you could have for yourself whatever you wanted - what would you choose?

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Religious Affiliation Impacts Language Use on Facebook

Washington, D.C. - Are you more likely to use words like “happy” and “family” in your social media posts? Or do you use emotional and cognitive words like “angry” and “thinking?” The words you use may be a clue to your religious affiliation. A study of 12,815 U.S. and U.K. Facebook users finds use of positive emotion and social words is associated with religious affiliation whereas use of negative emotion and cognitive processes is more common for those who are not religious than those who are religious.

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Psychology News Round-Up: ICYMI June 9, 2017

Each week, we recap featured posts from Character & Context and other blogs around the cyberspace, plus a few 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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How Many Atheists are There? It's Complicated

Using a subtle, indirect measurement technique, psychology researchers have found that there are probably a lot more atheists (people who don't believe in God) in the U.S. than show up in telephone polls.

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When Our Religious Beliefs Make Us Bad

Many people believe that religion is necessary for morality, but we find that some religious beliefs nudge people toward unethical inaction.

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Believing in Divine Forgiveness May Affect Well-being

Woman with hands in air and birds flying around her

Depressive symptoms are lower when people feel forgiven by God, but especially when they don’t forgive themselves.

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The Psychological and Social Importance of Postures During Worship

Why don’t people stand on their heads to pray?

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The Good and Evil of Ghosts, Governments, and Machines

Portland, Oregon - Good and evil may spring from the human mind, but new research reveals how they extend beyond humans to the artificial and supernatural.

Good Ghosts on the Mountains, Evil Spirits in the Caves

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Psychology News Round-Up: ICYMI September 7, 2018

This week's round-up includes an op-ed on the power of colloboration and integrated thinking. See what else you may have missed online.

Recently in the news, written a post, or have selections you'd like us to consider? Email us, use the hashtag #SPSPblog, or tweet us directly @spspnews.

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Psychology News Round-Up: ICYMI June 15, 2018

This week's roundup includes a link to twitter discussions on the Stanford Prison Experiment, op-eds and blog posts from members, and a variety of advice, based on recent studies, on dating, business, and willpower. Recently in the news, written a post, or have selections you'd like us to consider? Email us, use the hashtag #SPSPblog, or tweet us directly @spspnews.

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