Why Bad Looks Good

The Psychology of Attraction

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., Ph.D.

The Power of Looking at Photos of Your Spouse

Can looking at photos of your partner improve your marriage? Research has some encouraging answers.

Addressing the New Loneliness

With social restrictions lifting, connecting with others is more important than ever, both physically and emotionally.

In Abortion Debate, Emotion and Law in Tension

Why is the issue of abortion so divisive? The answer involves emotion, legality, and morality.

Could Using Pornography Lead to Dangerous Sexual Behavior?

Research raises the alarm on a particular aspect of pornography's common sexual scripts.

Dangerous Intimacy: When Sexual Behavior Can Be Deadly

How expressions of intimacy that begin with consent can devolve into dangerous deviance.

How Does Alcohol Impact the Ability to Recognize Emotion?

Does a happy hour cocktail make you better at perceiving whether others are happy too? Research has some interesting revelations.

How Has the Pandemic Impacted Your Romantic Relationship?

Congratulations, your relationship survived COVID-19 restrictions. But can you and your partner survive postpandemic stress?

What the Pandemic Taught Us About Our Personalities

Compliance or resistance? How response to pandemic protocols revealed the personality behind the persona.

Do Hollywood Productions Fairly Portray Sexual Aggression?

What does sexual aggression really look like within a relationship? Answer: very different than the way it is depicted in the movies and on TV.

Remember When? Why We Enjoy Nostalgia

Why do we love nostalgia? After all, it’s not like we remember a perfect time, just a different time, but fondly.

Are You More Attractive in Sunglasses?

Not just for movie stars or sunbathers: Research reveals how sunglasses impact appearance.

Are Dangerous Women Accurately Portrayed by the Media?

Hollywood femme fatales are often featured as the stars of blockbuster movies. But research investigates the real danger violent women pose.

How Domestic Violence Is More Than Physical Abuse

Depictions of domestic violence may be more broadly and accurately portrayed by those with personal experience than through the media.

Why Do Smart Women Marry Their Physical Abusers?

Domestic violence victims don’t just endure abuse to save their marriage, some actually decide to marry their abuser. Why?

The Eyes Have It: How to Recapture Chemistry Post-COVID

The relaxation of social restrictions has revitalized our social lives because interaction breeds attraction. But the key to connection may be to actually lock eyes.

Why Some Potential Partners Prefer to Move Slowly

How do you know when someone is romantically interested in you? Sometimes, the answer is through what they don’t pursue.

Health vs. Wealth: How the Pandemic Changed Our Priorities

Shopping, saving, and savoring. Postpandemic priorities reflect the true meaning of life.

Does Casual Dating Prompt Relational Commitment?

Think most casual daters are only interested in one-night stands? Think again.

The Qualities of a Loyal Partner

Think you can pick out a loyal partner? It might be easier than you think

Does Your Profession Reflect Your Romantic Potential?

When it comes to perceived partner potential, how much are you judged by what you do?

How to Refocus When a Partner Is Looking Elsewhere

Does your partner’s attention to relational alternatives mean they are planning a move? If so, make your move first to save your relationship.

How to Recover From a Relationship Mistake

Do you think you've made a mistake from which your relationship will never recover? Research finds that's not necessarily the case—but the quality of the rebound may depend on your feelings.

No, You Don’t Really Have to Get Married

Think everyone expects you to get married? Think again.

How People Think Differently Post-Pandemic

Have we developed post-pandemic priorities? Research suggests that in terms of values, the answer might be yes.

Is Your Partner Having an Emotional Affair?

Your partner assures you he has never been unfaithful. But how does he define that term? Research tackles the challenging concept of emotional infidelity.