Close Encounters

Relationships

How Important Is Equal Power in a Relationship?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on March 17, 2024

New research examines what matters more for relationship satisfaction: having equal power or simply having power.

New research examines what matters more for relationship satisfaction: having equal power or simply having power.

Infidelity

When Does a Partner's Behavior Cross Over Into Cheating?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on February 5, 2024

Do we perceive our partners' interactions with potential romantic rivals as innocent or as a sign of cheating? It may depend on the context.

Do we perceive our partners' interactions with potential romantic rivals as innocent or as a sign of cheating? It may depend on the context.

Mating

What Do Today's Singles Want?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on January 24, 2024

An annual survey examined singles' attitudes toward monogamy, the importance of financial stability in a partner, and the use of artificial intelligence in online dating.

An annual survey examined singles' attitudes toward monogamy, the importance of financial stability in a partner, and the use of artificial intelligence in online dating.

Social Networking

How Daily Small Talk Can Improve Well-Being

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on December 21, 2023

New research examines how brief conversations, and even simple greetings and thank yous, with strangers and acquaintances could make people happier.

New research examines how brief conversations, and even simple greetings and thank yous, with strangers and acquaintances could make people happier.

Happiness

How One Unhappy Partner Can Drag the Other Down

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on December 17, 2023

New research examines the life satisfaction trajectories of couples over time to determine how partners can influence each other's happiness.

New research examines the life satisfaction trajectories of couples over time to determine how partners can influence each other's happiness.

Mating

How Do People Perceive Online Daters?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on October 17, 2023

A new study compared people’s perceptions of online and offline daters. With the increasing popularity of online dating, have negative stereotypes of online daters waned?

A new study compared people’s perceptions of online and offline daters. With the increasing popularity of online dating, have negative stereotypes of online daters waned?

Relationships

Could Anger Be Good for Your Relationships?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on September 3, 2023

New research examines how different types of hostile emotions may affect whether you criticize, ignore, or try to make amends when a partner misbehaves.

New research examines how different types of hostile emotions may affect whether you criticize, ignore, or try to make amends when a partner misbehaves.

Personality

Can We Instantly Determine Personality on Instagram?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on August 8, 2023

New research explores the cues we use to judge others' personality traits based on their Instagram profiles — and tests how accurate those judgments are.

New research explores the cues we use to judge others' personality traits based on their Instagram profiles — and tests how accurate those judgments are.

Relationships

Who Are the Most Satisfied Singles?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on July 12, 2023

A new study explores the complex associations between singles' desire to be in a romantic relationship, their age, and how satisfied they are with their lives.

A new study explores the complex associations between singles' desire to be in a romantic relationship, their age, and how satisfied they are with their lives.

Narcissism

How Narcissism Rates Differ Depending on Age and Sex

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on June 17, 2023

New research examines age and gender differences in different forms of narcissism among more than 200,000 participants.

New research examines age and gender differences in different forms of narcissism among more than 200,000 participants.

Social Life

What Social Situations Take Up the Most "Social Bandwidth"?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on June 9, 2023

New research examines the factors that make our social interactions and draining, and how quickly we recover from them.

New research examines the factors that make our social interactions and draining, and how quickly we recover from them.

Narcissism

What Narcissists Really Think of Their Partners

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on April 4, 2023

Happy partners view each other in a positively biased manner. New research explores how dimensions of narcissism relate to accuracy and bias in partner perceptions.

Happy partners view each other in a positively biased manner. New research explores how dimensions of narcissism relate to accuracy and bias in partner perceptions.

Body Image

Will New Hyper-Realistic Video Filters Harm Mental Health?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on March 7, 2023

These incredibly realistic, dynamic, and instant beauty filters have the potential to affect us more than what came before them.

These incredibly realistic, dynamic, and instant beauty filters have the potential to affect us more than what came before them.

Attachment

Can Good Relationship Experiences Change Attachment Styles?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on February 25, 2023

New research shows how the positive experiences we have in new relationships can make us more comfortable with intimacy.

New research shows how the positive experiences we have in new relationships can make us more comfortable with intimacy.

Narcissism

How Changes in Narcissism Affect Relationship Satisfaction

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on February 2, 2023

A new study shows how changes in narcissistic traits relate to the trajectory of relationship satisfaction.

A new study shows how changes in narcissistic traits relate to the trajectory of relationship satisfaction.

Stress

How Stress Changes the Way You Look at Your Partner

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on December 15, 2022

A new study shows that chronically stressed couples more accurately perceive their partners' day-to-day negative behaviors.

A new study shows that chronically stressed couples more accurately perceive their partners' day-to-day negative behaviors.

Mating

Do We Really Know What We Want in a Partner?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on November 26, 2022

Research on dating explores factors that determine who we pair up with and how much of a role our preferences play.

Research on dating explores factors that determine who we pair up with and how much of a role our preferences play.

Relationships

What Are Today's Singles Seeking?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on November 15, 2022

A new survey of singles shows some things have changed, and other things haven't, since the start of the pandemic.

A new survey of singles shows some things have changed, and other things haven't, since the start of the pandemic.

Bias

How Well Do We Really Know Our Partners?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on September 26, 2022

We tend to view our partners through rose-colored glasses. But that doesn't mean love is totally blind. Research shows how we can simultaneously be both biased and accurate.

We tend to view our partners through rose-colored glasses. But that doesn't mean love is totally blind. Research shows how we can simultaneously be both biased and accurate.

Media

How Do Digital and In-Person Interactions Affect Wellbeing?

Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. on September 6, 2022

Surveys examining wellbeing and social interactions shed light on the role of digital socializing.

Surveys examining wellbeing and social interactions shed light on the role of digital socializing.