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Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 26-Oct-2026 11:16 ET (26-Oct-2026 15:16 GMT/UTC)

New research identifies the types of dishonesty that occur in a relationship – and their consequences

University of Copenhagen
Peer-Reviewed Publication

From ‘harmless’ white lies to infidelity, dishonesty in romantic relationships is a complex phenomenon that takes on many forms. New research from the University of Copenhagen shows that while dishonesty between partners often fuels distrust and resentment, it may also, in some cases, help couples solve issues and repair their bond.

Participatory theatre helps young people become active citizens

Estonian Research Council
Reports and Proceedings

In Estonian schools, social studies classes provide a thorough education on what democracy is and what it means to be a citizen. However, knowledge alone is not enough to foster active citizenship or to reduce the differences in civic skills between Estonian- and Russian-speaking young people. A doctoral thesis by Nikolai Kunitsõn, a political scientist at Tallinn University, shows that participatory theatre can bridge this gap.

Do animal behavior experiments give us a distorted view of cooperation?

Utrecht University, Faculty of Science
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Animals behave differently when they have more opportunities to cooperate. The findings raise an important question: are scientists seeing only part of the picture in standard behavioural experiments?

Journal: Animal Behaviour

How YouTube shapes public understanding of avian influenza

University of Calgary
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Online discussions intensified as avian influenza expanded from a veterinary concern into broader debates over interspecies transmission, public trust, and geopolitics.

Japan’s small cities may face higher care burdens under the compact city policy

Osaka Metropolitan University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An Osaka Metropolitan University researcher evaluated Japan’s Location Optimization Plan, a national compact city policy, using a quasi-experimental analysis across 1,595 SMCs from 2008 to 2022. The findings caution against one-size-fits-all compact city policies and suggest that small cities may need more selective, context-sensitive approaches, including smart-decline principles.

Journal: Sustainable Cities and Society
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Participating in heavy-contact youth sports, dropping out of sports linked to acts of violence

Ohio State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Contrary to popular belief, simply playing organized youth sports does not reduce the likelihood of committing violence in one’s lifetime, and in some cases, may increase it, according to a new study.

Journal: Sociology of Sport Journal

UNC study: Peer-driven social media messages may help counter youth loneliness epidemic by encouraging real-world connection

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explores how social media can be used to address loneliness.

Journal: Journal of Adolescent Health