Archive

Just a compliment? Why positive gender stereotypes can be more harmful than they seem

Most people would probably agree that “women can’t drive” is a sexist statement. But what about saying that “women are nurturing”? Isn’t that just a nice compliment? At first glance, these kinds of gender stereotypes often appear relatively harmless. In reality, they are anything but: seemingly positive gender stereotypes play a crucial role in reinforcing traditional gender roles...

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What are the positive and negative side effects of gender quotas?

To decrease inequality between men and women in the workplace, multiple European countries have introduced legislated quota regulations in favor of women. Since 2016, a gender quota has been entrenched in German law followed by a significant rise in the representation of women in target positions. But do quota regulations have additional effects on everyday work life? This article presents empirical research on positive and negative side effects of ...

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Sex differences in the perception of sexual arousal

“Men are from mars, women are from Venus” [1] this saying often appears as common knowledge. Particularly the sexuality of men and women is often considered to be fundamentally different. Research, however, demonstrates that the physiological processes underlying sexual arousal in men and women are surprisingly similar [2]. This finding is in marked contrast to men’s and women’s reports of subjectively experienced sexual arousal. When asked about their subjective sexual...

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Going the Extra Mile at Work: Helpful or Harmful?

Is it helpful or harmful to go the extra mile at work? While generally regarded favorably, organizational researchers are increasingly considering the potential dark side of discretionary work behaviors that go beyond the formal requirements of the job. Can psychological research help organizations find a balance between the benefits and downsides of these discretionary behaviors?

 

In the United States alone, it is estimated that as many...

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Technology-Facilitated Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA): the ‘Flaw in the Law’

Recent figures suggest that the number of young people falling victim to sexual abuse online continues to rise. Given the substantial impact such experiences can have, we are challenging whether current legislation understands the true nature of such offending and reflects the actual harm caused.

The rise in ‘online grooming’

According to recent figures published by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to...

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Fair Enough? The Inequality Paradox, Inequality Awareness, and System Justification

Picture society. Some people are rich, some are poor and that’s just the way it is. After all, rich people have worked hard to get where they are, and anyone with the right mind can, too. Poor people would not be able to handle the money anyway. Then, you find out that 26 rich people own as much wealth as half of the world’s population together. Are you still so sure? In this article, you will...

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Toward the LGBTQ+ Friendly Workplace: Are We There Yet?

Gender and sexual minorities in the United States still face discrimination and a number of challenges. What are the workplace experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and is the modern organization LGBTQ+ friendly? Read more to find out.

With the 50^th anniversary of the Stonewall riots marked by June of 2019, it is important to reflect on advances for the LGBTQ+... / more

Darkness All Around: Humor, Personality, and Creativity

Dark humor [1] is harsh and horrendous humor that makes fun of taboo or serious subjects (e.g., jokes on otherwise traumatizing things/events such as dead babies, the holocaust, terminal illnesses, etc). As can be expected, these are often disputed topics within the broader gamut of humor. Some laugh heartily at the expense of others, while some may find such insinuations extremely offensive. The fact that people react differently to such jokes make individual differences within humor styles apparent....

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Can vacations live up to their reputation?

Especially in the time before summer, people look forward to the beginning of their summer vacations. On the one hand, holidays are an integral part of life of our society and primarily provide relaxation and recovery. On the other hand, recent research shows that vacation effects fade-out quite quickly after returning to work. As such, this raises an important question: Are vacations overvalued or even superfluous? What do we know about this phenomenon and what needs to be...

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The Kids are Alright? An Interview with Well-Being Ambassador Will Williams and a Case for Bringing Mindfulness to Schools

The No Good Terrible Very Bad Day

Imagine the last bad day you had. Maybe you were jolted out of a pleasant snooze by a complaining alarm. You’re late. You’re groggy and in your haste, you spill half your breakfast on a freshly cleaned shirt—and the other half now lies in a puddle on the floor. You frantically try to clean it up as you scramble out the door to catch your ride. You look like...

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