https://phys.org/science-news/social-sciences/ en-us The latest news on social sciences, history, political science, psychology and sociology A computerized matching system can be designed to be fair and still produce unequal outcomes if the people using it do not understand how it works, according to new research published in Organization Science that shows that disparities can emerge even when a matching system is designed to reduce bias, discourage gaming and reward honest decision-making. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-fair-unequal-outcomes.html Mathematics Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:07 EDT news698069461 Climate change is widely understood as an environmental and economic threat, but new research from the University of Sydney shows it is also a growing social crisis, weakening the relationships people rely on to survive. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-climate-social.html Social Sciences Fri, 15 May 2026 11:20:01 EDT news698061421 A few years ago, I had just moved into a house. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-friendship-loneliness.html Social Sciences Fri, 15 May 2026 08:59:31 EDT news698054342 People who shop at the more than 8,700 farmers markets operating in the U.S. either year-round or seasonally generally fall into six distinct groups. Three of them are more interested in farmers markets than the others. I study local food systems as a strategic communications scholar, and that's the main takeaway from a study that I conducted with several colleagues. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-farmers.html Social Sciences Fri, 15 May 2026 08:56:09 EDT news698054101 A study on the future of Australia's housing market has revealed that even well-intended housing market interventions could significantly worsen housing affordability and homelessness in the country due to the impacts of climate change. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-homelessness-higher-decade-due-impacts.html Social Sciences Fri, 15 May 2026 08:36:43 EDT news698052962 James Cook University researchers say a group of cycling enthusiasts who used a collaborative playlist to stay connected during pandemic lockdowns provide a low-cost model for organizations seeking to support mental health and social resilience. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-daily-song-cyclists.html Social Sciences Fri, 15 May 2026 05:47:26 EDT news698042821 Children who grow up in disadvantaged households may receive fewer social benefits from their intelligence in adulthood than those raised in more advantaged environments, according to new research from the University of Bath. A new study by Professor Chris Dawson, published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, finds that childhood disadvantage is linked not only to lower cognitive ability in adulthood, but also to lower levels of trust in other people. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-childhood-disadvantage-limit-social-benefits.html Social Sciences Thu, 14 May 2026 14:52:20 EDT news697989121 A mathematical method borrowed from topology can reveal structural properties of visual art that correspond to how people perceive and respond to them, according to a new study published in PLOS Computational Biology by Jacek Rogala of the University of Warsaw, Poland, Shabnam Kadir of the University of Hertfordshire, UK, and colleagues. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-mathematical-analysis-reveals-hidden-golden.html Mathematics Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:01 EDT news697884781 For decades, researchers have documented an achievement gap between children from higher- and lower-income families. On average, children with more resources perform better in school and on cognitive tests. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-child-environment-brain-problems.html Social Sciences Thu, 14 May 2026 12:14:38 EDT news697979641 The pleasant, earthy sound of a marimba is a key component in the modern orchestra, but their high prices, ranging from $1,000 to over $25,000, sometimes make them cost-prohibitive for schools and students. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-marimbas-hickory-music-classrooms.html Social Sciences Thu, 14 May 2026 10:40:03 EDT news697876023 Valleyspeak, uptalk, vocal fry: These are all examples of speech patterns generally assigned to young women and often stereotyped to imply a lack of confidence or intelligence. At least one of these assumed patterns, however, is false. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-vocal-fry-stereotype-unravels-men.html Social Sciences Thu, 14 May 2026 10:40:01 EDT news697876008 Law enforcement is a critical aspect of ensuring safety in communities. However, unjustified harm has been associated with law enforcement throughout history, resulting in tension between police and communities. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-critical-law.html Social Sciences Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:07 EDT news697967524 Whether it's artificial intelligence programs or the Amazon rainforest, people often experience gratitude or protectiveness toward non-human entities because they perceive these entities as having good intentions, according to research published in the journal Emotion. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-machines-forests-strange-reshaping-human.html Social Sciences Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:05 EDT news697875990 We are surrounded by computer-generated voices these days, from navigation systems and voice assistants to automated announcements. But how human do these voices actually sound? A recent study by the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, published in the journal Speech Communication, shows that our perception is affected by three things: how something is said, what is being said, and whether we understand the language. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-voices-human-layer-speech-illusion.html Social Sciences Wed, 13 May 2026 21:40:01 EDT news697882937 Artificial intelligence (AI) systems affect many parts of daily life, including health care, education, and public policy, but the public has had few meaningful opportunities to participate in the development, governance, or modifications of AI systems, according to Tanusree Sharma, assistant professor in the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology. As a result, AI systems may not align with the needs of diverse communities. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-inclusiveai-voting-ai-decisions-broader.html Social Sciences Wed, 13 May 2026 15:40:05 EDT news697904579 Do you know what the Apple logo looks like? Chances are, you think you do. It's ubiquitous and iconic. How could you not know it? But when tested, it turns out very few people can remember all the features of the logo. One study of 85 people found that only about half could pick the correct logo out of a lineup of similar ones. And only one person could correctly draw it. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-people-dont.html Social Sciences Wed, 13 May 2026 12:16:15 EDT news697893361 Our personal identity is composed of many dimensions, such as age, gender, ethnic background, or socioeconomic status. A research team led by Fariba Karimi from the Institute of Human-Centered Computing at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) and Samuel Martin-Gutierrez from the Complexity Science Hub developed the statistical computational model "MAPS" to calculate the influence of these factors on our social relationships. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-identity-traits-sharply-narrow-friends.html Mathematics Wed, 13 May 2026 11:00:24 EDT news697888801 Researchers have found our emotions toward politics not only play on our minds, but shape how our bodies respond to political experiences, even driving political participation higher. The new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that political emotions are not simply experienced as everyday feelings directed at political topics, but are felt differently in the body, becoming a key driver of how we participate in democracy. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-political-emotions-bodies-democracy.html Social Sciences Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:10 EDT news697800121 Could "dark triad" traits like narcissism and manipulation in leadership actually foster entrepreneurial energy? New research shows they may, but the same traits that build successful start-ups can also break them. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-successful-startup-founders-bit-toxic.html Social Sciences Tue, 12 May 2026 12:20:02 EDT news697800989 Work songs, musical pieces designed to be performed or sung while working, have been widely documented across various cultures and in different historical periods. For instance, people in different nations have been known to sometimes sing together while rowing, sailing, harvesting crops or building structures. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-songs-team.html Social Sciences Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:04 EDT news697708741 Millions of people around the world now use AI companions—for friendship, emotional support, mental health counseling and romantic interactions. This includes 72% of adolescents, according to one study from the United States. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-ai-companions-climate-action-undervalue.html Social Sciences Mon, 11 May 2026 18:20:02 EDT news697724162 The message to students used to be simple: "Just say no." But in today's schools, that message is not only outdated, it may be part of the problem. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-canadian-schools-roadmap-student-substance.html Social Sciences Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:03 EDT news697716241 When earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria in February 2023, more than 50,000 people were killed and thousands more were injured. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-workplace-doesnt-ethical-outlook-problem.html Social Sciences Mon, 11 May 2026 12:40:05 EDT news697715402 Anonymous school safety tip lines are providing critical insights into when young people report threats of violence and mental health concerns, according to a new study. Led by researchers at the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention and Sandy Hook Promise Foundation, their analysis found that tips related to potential school attacks, interpersonal violence and mental health crises follow clear timing patterns—offering new opportunities for prevention and intervention. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-anonymous-school-lines-reveal-patterns.html Social Sciences Mon, 11 May 2026 11:20:03 EDT news697714442 When you hear the term "food insecurity," what do you imagine? Do you equate it with poor dietary practices—in other words, eating badly? And do you believe the solution is getting people to better plan, shop for and prepare healthy meals? https://phys.org/news/2026-05-snapshot-food-insecurity-immigrants.html Social Sciences Sat, 09 May 2026 09:30:01 EDT news697449050 If you're dealing with a relationship marked by conflict, criticism or manipulation—be it with a parent, co-parent or colleague—chances are you've come across the "gray rock" method on social media or advice blogs. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-gray-method-narcissists-difficult-family.html Social Sciences Sat, 09 May 2026 08:30:01 EDT news697448790 From seasonal farmhands to health care workers to high-level software analysts, immigrant workers play a significant role in companies and industries across Canada and around the globe. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-workplace-hurdles-block-immigrants-foreign.html Social Sciences Sat, 09 May 2026 05:05:00 EDT news697521817 On New Year's Day, millions of people in Japan visit Shinto shrines to pray for good fortune. In summer, many return to their hometowns to honor ancestors in Buddhist rituals. Families often maintain household altars, and seasonal festivals remain a central part of community life. Though this may look like a religious practice, many of them may identify themselves as nonreligious. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-japan-complex-religious-landscape.html Social Sciences Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:01 EDT news697460102 How partners respond to stress may be as important as the stress itself, according to two new Canadian studies of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary couples. Known collectively as sexual and gender diverse (SGD) couples, these partners recover more efficiently from acute stress and display more engaged and coordinated support behaviors than cisgender heterosexual couples, the Université de Montréal studies found. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-couples-stress-quickly-clues-emerge.html Social Sciences Fri, 08 May 2026 09:20:06 EDT news697449481 A mythical army of genetically engineered raccoons has helped Australian researchers show that belief in conspiracy theories may be less common than previously thought. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-absurd-raccoon-army-exposed-hidden.html Social Sciences Fri, 08 May 2026 08:10:01 EDT news697445031