Psychology Today

New research investigates how making your affection contingent on your partner’s good behavior can be beneficial, and potentially backfire.

New research shows that the way we're affected by Facebook likes may depend on our self-esteem, and our sense of purpose in life.

New research shows that while online deception is common, it's less common than we think. And these new findings should be interpreted in light of research on offline lying.

New research shows how projecting your romantic feelings onto a friend can sometimes set off a chain reaction that leads to romance.

Think twice before dismissing research findings: When we hear of results that seem plausible, we label them "obvious", but when they're counterintuitive, we declare them false.

There are many reasons why couples may divorce, but when are these marital problems most likely to arise? Research tests three compelling possibilities.

Selfies have become a regular feature on social media, but research has only recently begun to examine the phenomenon. New studies explore the link between selfies and personality.

Narcissists attach more importance to the physical attractiveness and status of potential mates. But are narcissists really happier when they find that trophy partner?

New research shows that women tend to attribute more hostility to other women's faces than is actually present. The notion of “resting bitch face”, the tendency for a woman’s neutral face expression to appear angry or annoyed, has been catching on in the media. These studies suggest that whether women detect resting bitch face may be due to competition with other women.

Despite our good intentions, our advice to our loved ones may not be welcome... and may not be helpful either. Giving unsolicited advice, particularly unsolicited advice about someone’s relationship, is fraught with difficulties. Here are some reasons why you should reconsider before giving unwanted advice.

New research shows that selfies are linked to narcissism in men, but not women, and that some aspects of narcissism are better predictors of selfie-posting than others.

A common piece of advice when you’re trying to make an important decision is to generate a pros and cons list. You think “Should I break up with my boyfriend”, and then you generate a list of your guy’s faults and assets. It turns out this strategy is remarkably ineffective in illuminating your true feelings about your partner. But why?

Are you attracted to a romantic partner who is assertive and take charge? Or do you prefer someone less dominant? Your answer is likely to depend on your gender and personality. Women may prefer dominant “bad boys”, but some men prefer “bad girls”, and different women have very different reasons for seeking dominant partners. While other women may seek just the opposite.

If someone has experienced a particular event, they’ll sympathize with those going through the same experience. But those who have gotten through difficult situations tend to be the harshest judges of those who fail under similar circumstances.