EurekAlert! News by Subject: Social & Behavior

Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Jun-2026 05:16 ET (21-Jun-2026 09:16 GMT/UTC)

22-Apr-2026

Monkeys learn to self-medicate with soil to help them digest tourists’ junk food

University of Cambridge
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Gibraltar’s famous macaques have started eating soil, a behaviour linked to their access to tourist snacks, according to a new study. Scientists say it may help the animals digest high-calorie foods, and is an example of primate culture adapting to “anthropogenic landscapes”.

Journal: Scientific Reports

22-Apr-2026

Under embargo: Families and friends speak out on electroconvulsive therapy’s silenced risks

University of East London
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The study, published in the British Psychological Society’s scientific journal Psychology and Psychotherapy, highlights the emotional cost experienced by relatives, with many describing their grief at the loss of the person they had once known. Others described the burden of caring responsibilities because of the cognitive and physical damage to their loved on, while some talked about their guilt at not having stopped the treatment from happening.

Journal: Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice

22-Apr-2026

How do patients’ relatives and friends view the benefits and harms of electroconvulsive therapy?

Wiley
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A study in Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice reveals that the experiences of families and friends of individuals undergoing electroconvulsive therapy challenge claims that the therapy is safe and effective.

Journal: Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice

21-Apr-2026

Why do some people act on climate change while others stay silent?

Murdoch University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Why do some climate supporters act while others stay silent? New psychology research finds supporters fall into three distinct types, including a surprising group most drawn to radical action for reasons not driven by climate concern, showing activism is far from one‑size‑fits‑all.

Journal: Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology
Funder: Australian Research Council, Australian Research Council

21-Apr-2026

University of Phoenix white paper translates “sandwich generation” research into employer strategies to improve retention and workforce stability

University of Phoenix
Reports and Proceedings

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has released a new white paper, “How Organizations Can Help Sandwich Moms Achieve Work-Life Balance,” authored by TaMika Fuller, DBA, and Victoria Lender, DBA, both affiliated with the University’s Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR). The paper builds on insights from the University of Phoenix 2025 Career Optimism Special Report™ Series: Moms in the Sandwich Generation to offer actionable strategies for employers to better support employees of the “sandwich generation,” balancing care for both children and aging parents.

21-Apr-2026

Why voting ‘neither’ could harm American democracy

University of Notre Dame
Peer-Reviewed Publication

If you were to ask democracy scholars what they consider the greatest threat to American democracy, you might assume it is voters who support undemocratic practices or policies. But the real answer may surprise you: These voters are not the main problem. According to a recent study from the University of Notre Dame, voters who are comfortable living in the middle — neither agreeing nor disagreeing when asked about substantive issues relevant to upholding democracy — might be the largest group to blame for democratic decline in the United States.

Journal: Nature Human Behaviour
Funder: Rooney Democracy Institute

21-Apr-2026

MIT faculty examine how to expand the US economy in new book, “Priority Technologies”

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Book Announcement

In the book, “Priority Technologies,” MIT faculty analyze how the U.S. can move ahead in multiple key industrial sectors — semiconductors, biotechnology, critical minerals, drones, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing — to drive the economy and support national security.