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Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 1-May-2026 16:16 ET (1-May-2026 20:16 GMT/UTC)

Perceiving AI as a 'job killer' negatively influences attitudes towards democracy

University of Vienna
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing our society and economy. A new study shows that the majority of people believe that artificial intelligence is displacing more human labour than it is creating new opportunities. Scientists at the University of Vienna and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) demonstrated a causal link: the stronger this perception, the more dissatisfied people are with democracy – and the less they participate in political debates about future technological developments. These effects occur even though artificial intelligence has had only a limited impact on the labour market so far. The study was recently published in the renowned journal PNAS.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Einstein Foundation Award 2026: Apply now for a €350,000 prize advancing research integrity and quality

Einstein Foundation Berlin
Grant and Award Announcement

Researchers at all career stages, as well as institutions and initiatives, are invited to apply or nominate candidates for the prestigious international €350,000 Einstein Foundation Award – the only prize dedicated to honoring outstanding contributions to strengthening the rigor, reliability, robustness, and transparency of research across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and life sciences.

The submission deadline is April 30, 2026, with winners to be announced at the end of the year. Further information: award.einsteinfoundation.de

Funder: Berlin Institute of Health, Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft, State of Berlin

Perceiving AI as a ‘job killer’ negatively influences attitudes toward democracy

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Peer-Reviewed Publication

When people perceive artificial intelligence as replacing human labor, trust in democracy and political participation decline.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Unpredictable movements of autonomous robots increase human discomfort

Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team from the Visual Perception and Cognition Laboratory and the Cognitive Neurotechnology Unit at Toyohashi University of Technology investigated how the movements of autonomous mobile robots influence human emotional responses during passing encounters in virtual reality (VR) environments. The study found that when the robot moved monotonously in a straight path, participants initially exhibited increased arousal and skin conductance responses, which gradually diminished over repeated trials—indicating habituation. In contrast, when the robot’s motion included unpredictable pauses and restarts, both arousal and skin conductance responses remained elevated throughout the experiment, suggesting a lack of habituation and a greater tendency for participants to experience discomfort. These findings highlight the importance of predictability in robot behavior as a critical factor affecting human comfort in shared spaces. The results of this study were published online in the International Journal of Social Robotics on January 19, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-025-01341-3

Journal: International Journal of Social Robotics
Funder: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization

Tailored treatment approach shows promise for reducing suicide and self-harm risk in teens and young adults

University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study by UCLA and Kaiser Permanente Northwest’s Center for Health Research demonstrates a health care approach matching treatment intensity to individual risk levels can significantly reduce self-harm and depression among at-risk adolescents and young adults while improving patient satisfaction with care.

Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Wood burning in homes drives dangerous air pollution in winter

Northwestern University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Only 2% of U.S. homes rely on wood as their primary heating source, but residential wood burning accounts for 22% of fine particulate matter in winter air, a new study finds. The researchers estimate 8,600 premature deaths per year are associated with wood-burning fireplaces, furnaces and stoves. People of color burn less wood yet disproportionately experience higher exposure rates.

Journal: Science Advances

University of East London partners with The Queen's Reading Room on second pioneering neuroscience study with The Bentley Foundation

University of East London
Business Announcement

The University of East London (UEL) is leading a major new neuroscience research project in partnership with The Queen’s Reading Room, founded by Her Majesty Queen Camilla, and The Bentley Foundation. Headed by Professor Sam Wass, Director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years and Youth (ISEY) at UEL, the laboratory-controlled study will examine the psychological and physiological impact of shared reading and book clubs, exploring how reading together can reduce stress, strengthen social bonds and improve mental wellbeing.

Building on The Queen’s Reading Room’s groundbreaking 2024 study which found that just five minutes of reading can reduce stress by nearly 20% and lower loneliness by up to 70%, the research will apply rigorous neuroscientific methods to understand the wider health and social benefits of communal reading.