Latest news with #PsyPost
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Dominant' facial feature that means you're more likely to have a son
Scientists believe they have found a way to determine if dads-to-be will have a boy or girl first time around and the exact characteristic might prove surprising Expectant couples love to speculate whether they'll have a girl or a boy and new research suggests the answer might be written all over the fathers' faces. Scientists trying to work out of certain traits in mums and dads were linked to the sex of their firstborn think they've come up with an answer. According to PsyPost, the team from the University of Michigan spoke to 104 pairs of heterosexual parents with at least one child, asking them to supply photographs of their face which they asked students to rate for attractiveness, dominance, masculinity and femininity. And the results identified one key trait that they linked to an 83 per cent higher chance of having a son. Celebrity dads who have had sons first time around who could be said to have this subjective trait include former England footballer David Beckham, who has four children with the oldest son Brooklyn and Oscar winner Russell Crowe, dad to sons Charles and Tennyson. Actor Tom Hardy, whose first born is a son called Louis, is another example. The characteristic? Dominance in male faces. "In our sample of romantic couples, we found that fathers with more dominant-looking faces were more likely to have sons for a first-born child," said study author Benjamin Zubaly. "It is possible that this means when women are higher in testosterone and more likely to have a son they tend to choose more dominant males. However, further research is necessary to understand what processes underline our findings." The study used three tools to assess psychological dominance - a checklist of traits, a scale measuring control in social situations and the men's physical features. Facial dominance in mothers did not seem to affect the sex of their firstborn child. Celebrity fathers with girls first time around include The Notebook star Ryan Gosling, who has two daughters with actress Eva Mendes and former One Direction singer Zayn Malik, dad to daughter Khai with his ex, model Gigi Hadid. There are of course many other suggested ways to find out if you're having a boy or girl, with one theory reported to be 92 per cent accurate. Subtle differences in the size and shape of a baby's skull on an ultrasound picture could indicate the sex, with boys tending to have larger, blockier skulls while those of girls are rounder and smaller. Other less proven theories, often called old wives' tales, include experiencing a bad case of cold feet meaning a boy, while sweet food cravings could indicate a girl is on the way. Another popular theory is the position of the bump - high for a girl, low for a boy.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
13 Relationship Behaviors That Are Actually Power Plays in Disguise
Not all control looks like yelling or manipulation. Sometimes, power dynamics sneak in quietly, disguised as concern, politeness, or even love. These subtle behaviors often go unnoticed until the relationship feels more like a power struggle than a partnership. Whether it's emotional withdrawal, strategic silence, or constant 'help,' control can wear many masks. And if you constantly feel off-balance, second-guessing yourself, or trying to 'earn' safety in the relationship, these hidden power plays might be part of the reason. Here's what to watch for. According to BetterHelp, selective memory can sometimes be used as a defense mechanism where a person may intentionally "forget" certain events or information to avoid taking responsibility or to manipulate a situation. This behavior aligns with how someone might 'forget' important personal details you've shared, not out of genuine forgetfulness but as a way to control or dominate interactions. This selective memory isn't always innocent. Sometimes, forgetting is a way to reassert control by reminding you that your needs aren't the priority. When someone's memory is sharp everywhere except where it matters to you, that's not forgetfulness—it's dominance disguised as carelessness. They go cold for hours—or days—after an argument. No resolution, no closure, just silence that leaves you anxious and emotionally scrambling. It's less about processing and more about punishing. Withholding communication creates an imbalance of power. You're left guessing, apologizing, or over-functioning to restore peace. Silence isn't always passive—it can be a weapon. They go out of their way to do something for you, then later remind you of it like you owe them. That unsolicited favor turns into leverage. Suddenly, your gratitude is expected on demand. When help comes with strings attached, it's not generosity's a power move. True support doesn't keep receipts. But this kind of behavior ensures the scales of the relationship are always tilted in their favor. Research by Bo Feng and Eran Magen on Sage Journal shows that unsolicited help can frustrate recipients' psychological needs for autonomy and competence, leading to feelings of resentment and diminished well-being. A study published on PsyPost explains how unwanted help, especially when imposed without consent, can have lasting negative effects on the recipient's sense of autonomy and mental health. It starts as 'just teasing'—a light jab about your appearance, your quirks, your past. Everyone laughs, including them, while you sit frozen, humiliated. Later, they say you're being 'too sensitive.' Humor that hits a nerve isn't harmless—it's a disguised dig. Making you the punchline in front of others is a calculated way to assert dominance while pretending it's affection. And when it's done consistently, it's about control, not comedy. You say something, and they immediately correct you. Not because you were wrong, but because they need to prove a point, usually in front of a group. It's not about the topic, it's about the power shift. This kind of public contradiction isn't an intellectual's performative. It subtly positions them as the 'rational' one and you as misinformed. Over time, it chips away at your credibility and your confidence. Studies on the effects of conflict in relationships explain how such disagreements, especially when public and frequent, can undermine social connections and increase stress, highlighting the damaging impact of this behavior on personal credibility and well-being. You bring up something that hurt you, and suddenly, you're the problem. 'You're too emotional,' 'You're reading into it,' or 'I was just trying to help.' Your reality is rewritten in real-time. This isn't conflict resolution—it's emotional gaslighting. By minimizing your feelings, they maintain the upper hand in every disagreement. Power doesn't need to yell—it can whisper, 'You're being dramatic.' As noted in a study published on PubMed, power imbalances in romantic relationships as when one partner makes decisions without including the other-are associated with lower relationship quality. The research highlights that unequal decision-making power can negatively affect relationship satisfaction and dynamics, underscoring the importance of mutual involvement in major decisions to maintain healthy partnerships. In healthy relationships, autonomy is mutual. When one person constantly moves without you, they're asserting dominance under the guise of independence. Exclusion isn't always loud—it's strategic. You try to speak, and they talk over you, cut you off, or finish your sentences for you. It's subtle, but persistent. You walk away from conversations feeling unheard and small. Interruptions aren't always about enthusiasm—they can be about control. The message is: My voice matters more than yours. Over time, this dynamic creates silence where your opinions used to live. You opened up about your childhood, your fears, your past, and now it's used against you in arguments or sarcastic comments. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it stings deeply. What was sacred becomes strategic. This is one of the most manipulative power plays: turning intimacy into ammunition. When someone uses your openness to gain control, they're not being careless—they're being calculating. Trust shouldn't be a trap. One day they're all in—the next, they're distant, distracted, hard to reach. You're constantly trying to read the room, figure out what version of them you're getting today. That unpredictability creates emotional instability. Mixed signals aren't confusion—they're control. Keeping you off-balance ensures that you're always working to earn their warmth. It's not indecision—it's dominance wrapped in inconsistency. You make them upset, and suddenly the hugs stop. They become emotionally unavailable or sexually distant without ever naming what's wrong. Affection becomes a reward, not a right. This kind of behavior turns love into a transaction. You're left trying to 'behave' your way back into closeness. True connection doesn't use intimacy as leverage. It sounds like a compliment at first—'She never used to get upset like this,' or 'My ex handled that better.' But the undertone is sharp. You're being measured against someone else, and you're coming up short. Comparison is rarely about insight—it's about control. It keeps you in a state of emotional insecurity, always trying to prove you're 'enough.' People who want you to grow don't hold someone else over your head. They say harsh things, then defend them with 'I'm just being real.' The honesty feels more like judgment than clarity. And somehow, their 'truth' always seems to make you smaller. Honesty without empathy is often a veiled power move. It positions them as brave, rational, or superior while casting you as fragile. Real honesty uplifts—it doesn't bruise.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
If you get ‘the ick' often, you probably possess this negative personality trait — study says
If you're someone who regularly gets the ick from someone you're dating — you might be a narcissist. The term that refers to the feeling of disgust from something a romantic partner does, says or even wears has gone viral on social media in recent years. And according to a study published in Personality and Individual Differences, those who experience this feeling often might possess personality traits that indicate narcissism. For the study, researchers analyzed 74 men and 51 women, ranging in age from 24 to 72. They asked the participants if they knew what getting the ick meant and if they've ever experienced it. The study then measured the 'likelihood of experiencing the ick in response to specific behaviors, completed personality assessments and answered questions about their dating experiences,' according to Psy Post. Regarding the personality assessments participants took part in, those who showed narcsictic behavior were more likely to negatively react to a person's imperfections — especially if it contracticed what they want in a potential romantic partner. The results of the study also indicated that women experience the ick more often compared to men — which isn't surprising considering adult females are 'more sensitive to grossness than males,' according to a scientific dive by NatGeo. 'Anything we are averse to, that we want to avoid, or that we shrink back from — including the ick — is controlled by this area of the brain [called the habenula],' Dr. Kyra Bobinet, a California behavioral neuroscientist and author of 'Unstoppable Brain,' told Fox News Digital. 'This area of your brain is scouting for anything that's not going to work out for you,' she said. 'It has a negativity bias.' As a result, people will either immediately (26 %) or eventually (42%) end things with someone over an ick that turned them off, according to the Personality and Individual Differences study. While many daters are quick to get rid of a potential suitor because of their quirks, study author Eliana Saunders said that people should take icks with a grain of salt and maybe think twice before completley writing off someone. 'While this feeling of disgust could be a valid marker of mate incompatibility, it could also be a symptom of high sensitivity to disgust, narcissism, other-oriented perfectionism, etc.' 'Before dumping a partner because their feet dangle when they sit in a chair, we should think critically about why we're feeling 'icked' out. Ask yourself: Is this something I truly can't deal with, or am I being overly critical? Is this 'ick' their fault, or is it mine?''
New York Post
11-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
If you get ‘the ick' often, you probably possess this negative personality trait — study says
If you're someone who regularly gets the ick from someone you're dating — you might be a narcissist. The term that refers to the feeling of disgust from something a romantic partner does, says or even wears has gone viral on social media in recent years. And according to a study published in Personality and Individual Differences, those who experience this feeling often might possess personality traits that indicate narcissism. For the study, researchers analyzed 74 men and 51 women, ranging in age from 24 to 72. They asked the participants if they knew what getting the ick meant and if they've ever experienced it. The study then measured the 'likelihood of experiencing the ick in response to specific behaviors, completed personality assessments and answered questions about their dating experiences,' according to Psy Post. Regarding the personality assessments participants took part in, those who showed narcsictic behavior were more likely to negatively react to a person's imperfections — especially if it contracticed what they want in a potential romantic partner. The results of the study also indicated that women experience the ick more often compared to men — which isn't surprising considering adult females are 'more sensitive to grossness than males,' according to a scientific dive by NatGeo. The results of the study indicated that women experience the ick more often compared to men. Getty Images/iStockphoto 'Anything we are averse to, that we want to avoid, or that we shrink back from — including the ick — is controlled by this area of the brain [called the habenula],' Dr. Kyra Bobinet, a California behavioral neuroscientist and author of 'Unstoppable Brain,' told Fox News Digital. 'This area of your brain is scouting for anything that's not going to work out for you,' she said. 'It has a negativity bias.' As a result, people will either immediately (26 %) or eventually (42%) end things with someone over an ick that turned them off, according to the Personality and Individual Differences study. 'This area of your brain is scouting for anything that's not going to work out for you,' said Dr. Kyra Bobinet. Getty Images/iStockphoto While many daters are quick to get rid of a potential suitor because of their quirks, study author Eliana Saunders said that people should take icks with a grain of salt and maybe think twice before completley writing off someone. 'While this feeling of disgust could be a valid marker of mate incompatibility, it could also be a symptom of high sensitivity to disgust, narcissism, other-oriented perfectionism, etc.' 'Before dumping a partner because their feet dangle when they sit in a chair, we should think critically about why we're feeling 'icked' out. Ask yourself: Is this something I truly can't deal with, or am I being overly critical? Is this 'ick' their fault, or is it mine?''
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Scanned the Brains of Authoritarians and Found Something Weird
People who support authoritarianism on either side of the political divide have, according to a new study, something weird going on with their brains. Published in the journal Neuroscience, new research out of Spain's University of Zaragoza found, upon scanning the brains of 100 young adults, that those who hold authoritarian beliefs had major differences in brain areas associated with social reasoning and emotional regulation from subjects whose politics hewed more to the center. The University of Zaragoza team recruited 100 young Spaniards — 63 women and 37 men, none of whom had any history of psychiatric disorders — between the ages of 18 and 30. Along with having their brains scanned via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the participants were asked questions that help identify both right-wing and left-wing authoritarianism and measure how anxious, impulsive, and emotional they were. As the researchers defined them, right-wing authoritarians are people who ascribe to conservative ideologies and so-called "traditional values" who advocate for "punitive measures for social control," while left-wing authoritarians are interested in "violently overthrow[ing] and [penalizing] the current structures of authority and power in society." Though participants whose beliefs align more with authoritarianism on either side of the aisle differed significantly from their less-authoritarian peers, there were also some stark differences between the brain scans of left-wing and right-wing authoritarians in the study. In an interview with PsyPost, lead study author Jesús Adrián-Ventura said that he and his team found that right-wing authoritarianism was associated with lower grey matter volume in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex — a "region involved in understanding others' thoughts and perspectives," as the assistant Zaragoza psychology professor put it. The left-wing authoritarians of the bunch — we don't know exactly how many, as the results weren't broken down in the paper — had less cortical (or outer brain layer) thickness in the right anterior insula, which is "associated with emotional empathy and behavioral inhibition." Cortical thickness in that brain region has been the subject of ample research, from a 2005 study that found people who meditate regularly have greater thickness in the right anterior insula to a 2018 study that linked it to greater moral disgust. The author, who is also part of an interdisciplinary research group called PseudoLab that studies political extremism, added that the psychological questionnaires subjects completed also suggested that "both left-wing and right-wing authoritarians act impulsively in emotionally negative situations, while the former tend to be more anxious." As the paper notes, this is likely the first study of its kind to look into differences between right- and left-wing authoritarianism rather than just grouping them all together. Still, it's a fascinating look into the brains of people who hold extremist beliefs — especially as their ilk seize power worldwide. More on authoritarianism: Chinese People Keep Comparing Trump's Authoritarianism to Mao and Xi Jinping
