How They Look
Health as an Alibi: The Virtuous Framing of Appearance Pursuits
Stephanie Lin, Kaitlin Woolley & Peggy Liu
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, forthcoming
Abstract:
In many societies, attaining cultural ideals of physical attractiveness is desirable (e.g., being beautiful), but pursuing physical attractiveness is not (e.g., being vain). How do people address these paradoxical standards? We argue that people meet the standards to both appear slim and appear to have good values by disguising their true motives for ambiguous actions (i.e., diet and exercise): they project more virtuous health motives to others despite being actually driven by physical appearance motives. Five preregistered studies and two supplemental studies (N = 4,321) find evidence for this behavior and offer an intervention to increase the extent to which people are actually driven by health (vs. physical appearance) motives in private. Moreover, we find that this behavior is driven by the desire to be seen by others as having good values. Altogether, this research contributes to a better understanding of the distorted discourse surrounding health, diet, exercise, and appearance.
Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of “Rough Sex” Behaviors: Findings from a U.S. Nationally Representative Survey of Adults Ages 18–94 Years
Debby Herbenick et al.
Archives of Sexual Behavior, October 2025, Pages 3435-3469
Abstract:
Rough sex behaviors have become prevalent among young adults in the U.S. and internationally. However, little is known about these behaviors at the population level. Using nationally representative survey data of 9029 U.S. adults, we aimed to provide population estimates and demographic correlates of 10 such behaviors: consensual and nonconsensual hair pulling, biting, face slapping, genital slapping, light spanking, hard spanking, choking, punching, name-calling, and smothering. We found that 47.8% of women, 60.8% of men, and 67.3% of transgender and gender nonbinary participants (TGNB+) had ever done one or more of the behaviors to a partner. Also, 53.8% of women, 45.7% of men, and 69.5% of transgender and gender nonbinary participants reported that a partner had ever performed at least one type of the assessed behaviors on them, with consent. Experiencing one or more of the behaviors done to them without consent was reported by 19.6% of women, 15.9% of men, and 33.5% of TGNB+ participants. As a general pattern, the behaviors we assessed tended to be more prevalent among younger cohorts as compared with older cohorts and to be reported by more sexual orientation minorities than those identifying as heterosexual. Sexuality educators and clinicians need to be aware of these emerging sexual behaviors. Also, public health agencies should address the increased prevalence of sexual choking, which is usually done as a form of neck compression or strangulation and poses unique risks to health.
Measuring the effects of Obergefell v. Hodges: Revisiting same-sex marriage legalization and mortgage demand
Nir Eilam & Hasan Shahid
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, forthcoming
Abstract:
The U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges made same-sex marriage legal in all states. We estimate the effect of this landmark ruling on the mortgage demand of same-sex couples. Using data on the near universe of mortgage applications, we employ a difference-in-differences estimation strategy that compares the mortgage demand from same-sex and different-sex couples, before and after the ruling. We find that the ruling increased the mortgage demand from same-sex couples relative to different-sex couples by 12% in states where same-sex marriage was previously unavailable. Interestingly, we also estimate a 15% increase in the mortgage demand of same-sex couples in states that had already legalized same-sex marriage prior to the ruling. This suggests that the federal Supreme Court ruling brought greater certainty to same-sex couples, even in states where same-sex marriage was already legal. Additionally, we find that the effects were significantly larger for same-sex female couples compared to same-sex male couples, consistent with prior literature documenting higher marriage take-up among women in same-sex relationships. Our results emphasize the importance of federal Supreme Court rulings over and above similar state-level legislation in shaping outcomes of vulnerable populations.
The Hidden Costs of Gratitude: Gratitude Amplification Is Costly for Personal and Relationship Well-Being
Claire Shimshock et al.
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, forthcoming
Abstract:
Expressing gratitude often strengthens relationships, yet many people say “thank you” despite not feeling especially grateful. Although this may seem innocuous, are there hidden costs? We tested the effects of expressed, perceived, and accurate perceptions of gratitude amplification on romantic couples’ personal and relational well-being across four dyadic studies (Ncouples = 639), including lab conversations (Studies 1a and 2a), naturalistically in daily life (Studies 1b and 2b), and over time (Studies 3 and 4). Findings indicated that higher expressed and perceived gratitude amplification did yield personal and interpersonal costs, which were mediated by lower authenticity and responsiveness. Effects could not be accounted for by alternative explanations, including expressers feeling lower relationship satisfaction or less grateful for their partner. Altogether, we identify a hidden cost of gratitude expressions, indicating that amplified gratitude can undermine couples’ well-being by compromising authenticity and responsiveness.
Intranasal Oxytocin and Physical Intimacy for Dermatological Wound Healing and Neuroendocrine Stress: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Ekaterina Schneider et al.
JAMA Psychiatry, forthcoming
Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study whereby participants completed 3 laboratory visits and a 5-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA). During the first laboratory visit, participants received 4 small suction-blister wounds applied to their forearms. Data were collected from November 20, 2011, to July 25, 2013; final analyses were conducted from December 2023 to February 2025.
Interventions: Over the following 7 days, participants were instructed to self-administer either oxytocin or a placebo twice daily and to engage in structured positive interaction (Partner Appreciation Task [PAT]) up to 3 times in total or not.
Results: The volunteer sample was 80 healthy, heterosexual couples (N = 160 participants, mean [SD] age, 27.6 [5.0] years). Couples in the PAT condition who received daily oxytocin showed improved wound healing (b = −0.125, t286 = −1.983; P = .048). However, these effects were not consistently robust in sensitivity analyses (b = −0.090, t282 = −1.643; P = .10). Notably, the administration of oxytocin combined with daily affectionate touch (b = −0.038, t137 = −2.091; P = .04) and sexual activity (b = −0.145, t137 = −2.122; P = .04) was linked to a reduction in wound severity. These associations remained largely consistent in sensitivity analyses (affectionate touch: b = –0.037, t135 = –2.057; P = .04; sexual activity: b = –0.131, t135 = –1.900; P = .06). Additionally, greater sexual activity was associated with reduced daily cortisol levels (b = −373.084, t488 = −2.813; P = .005).