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Social & Behavior

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 29-Apr-2026 08:17 ET (29-Apr-2026 12:17 GMT/UTC)

Unraveling the neural circuitry that makes mice attack

University of Tsukuba
Peer-Reviewed Publication

When defending their territory, male mice typically appear threatening before launching an attack, ensuring that aggression does not unnecessarily escalate. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba found that increased activity in the neural pathway going from the lateral hypothalamus (LH) to the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) boosts attack behavior without affecting threat displays.

Journal: iScience

Leadership emotions are judged differently for men and women

Griffith University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A Griffith University study finds male and female leaders are judged differently when expressing emotions at work. Leaders’ emotions influence employee wellbeing and engagement, but employees are more tolerant of lower emotional support from male leaders, while female leaders may face stronger expectations to provide emotional care.

Journal: International Journal of Stress Management

Do TV ads work? Ask smart TVs

University of Texas at Austin
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In new research, Rex Du, professor of marketing at the McCombs School of Business, devises a more exact way to measure the causal impact of TV ad exposures on consumer purchases.

Journal: Marketing Science

Global gun violence research requires a multidisciplinary approach

Boston University School of Public Health
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Understanding gun violence risk factors, along with effective policies and interventions, can help reverse the alarming rate of global gun violence—but researchers face multiple challenges in achieving these goals, according to a new commentary published in The Lancet.

Journal: The Lancet

World is falling behind on UN’s child mortality Sustainable Development Goal

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study tracking global progress on child mortality finds that the world will miss a key United Nations (UN) health target by at least five years at current rates, with the burden falling heavily on Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings were published this week in the open-access journal PLOS One by Min Liu of Peking University, Beijing, China, and colleagues.

Journal: PLOS One
Funder: Nationally Funded Postdoctoral Researcher Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China

Walking is top leisure-time physical activity for US adults

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a study of U.S. adults, walking was, by far, the most popular leisure-time physical activity, while rural residents also enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing, and urban residents more commonly reported running, weightlifting and dance. Urban residents were more likely than rural residents to meet physical activity guidelines. Christiaan Abildso of West Virginia University, U.S., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One on April 1, 2026.

Journal: PLOS One

Common relationship survey measures may capture overall relationship appraisal more than distinct relationship facets

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Commonly used self-report measures of romantic relationships may capture people’s overall appraisal of their relationship, more than measuring distinct relationship facets such as communication, conflict and affection, according to a new study published April 1, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One by James Kim of Lakehead University in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues. The findings also suggest that a person’s judgment of their overall relationship quality strongly shape how they answer questions intended to capture distinct, separate facets of the relationship.

Journal: PLOS One

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