#Education

A new USC-led study finds that 30 days of daily mindfulness meditation can significantly improve attentional control across age groups. Using precise eye-tracking, researchers observed faster target engagement and reduced distractibility in participants who practiced mindfulness, compared with those listening to audiobooks.

The findings hold particular relevance for Thailand, where Buddhist meditation traditions intersect with mounting concerns about cognitive health in an aging population. As Thai educators, healthcare professionals, and the public seek a mix of traditional and modern wellness tools, this research provides scientific support for mindfulness as a practical boost to attentional fitness in schools, workplaces, and elder care settings.

Eye contact reveals more about confidence, self-esteem, and social intelligence than many realize. New insights from psychology and field interviews offer practical lessons for Thais navigating work, family, and public life.

In Thailand, subtle signals matter. The moment eyes meet can signal trust or hesitation in job interviews, negotiations, or casual chats at markets. A relaxed, steady gaze communicates openness, warmth, and confidence before a word is spoken. Quick, tense, or wandering eye contact often hints at unease or distraction.

A groundbreaking study has found that just 30 days of daily mindfulness meditation can significantly boost attentional control in people of all ages, making it a promising tool for maintaining brain health as we grow older. Published by researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, this research stands out as it uses precise eye-tracking technology to objectively demonstrate these cognitive benefits—offering insight beyond what self-report questionnaires reveal.

Interest in the cognitive benefits of mindfulness has been rising globally, including among Thai educators, healthcare professionals, and the general public. This study carries particular resonance in Thailand, where meditation traditions rooted in Buddhism intersect with growing concerns about cognitive health in an aging population. As Thais increasingly look to both traditional and contemporary wellness strategies, this scientific validation of mindfulness as a tool for attentional fitness may encourage broader adoption in schools, offices, and even elderly care settings.

A new article published in Psychology Today, titled “Why Systematic Thinking Creates Minds That Mirror Algorithms,” has sparked concern among educators and parents worldwide by suggesting that modern educational methods may be inadvertently stifling creative thinking in students. The research-backed piece points to the risks of prioritizing systematic, algorithm-like problem-solving approaches—a hallmark of many school curricula today—at the expense of nurturing originality and divergent thinking, skills crucial for thriving in a rapidly changing global economy.

A new discussion sparked by a Psychology Today feature questions whether Thai schools, alongside global systems, may overemphasize systematic problem-solving at the expense of creativity. The concern is that rigid, test-driven instruction helps students perform procedures efficiently but may limit divergent thinking and innovative capabilities essential in a fast-changing economy.

In Thailand, the Ministry of Education has long prioritized systematic thinking as a foundation for math and science success. Classrooms often rely on memorization, standardized tests, and formulaic problem-solving rather than open-ended inquiry and collaborative projects. While such methods help achieve solid regional scores, critics argue they can overlook the development of original ideas and flexible thinking needed for entrepreneurship, the arts, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

A new study from a U.S. liberal arts college offers timely lessons for Thai educators and policymakers as Thailand expands digital learning under the “Thailand 4.0” vision. The findings highlight both the transformative potential of technology in schools and the ethical questions that accompany rapid integration.

The research centers on a compulsory course called Computers and Society, which invites students from various disciplines to question the promises and perils of modern computing. Instructors stress the importance of critical thinking and understanding the societal implications of technology, underscoring that digital tools are now ubiquitous and new dilemmas continually arise. This perspective resonates with Thailand’s push for broader digital literacy, even as gaps in access and guidance persist.

New research is shedding light on how the simple act of maintaining eye contact reveals far more about your confidence, self-esteem, and social intelligence than most realize, according to recent psychology findings summarised in a July 2025 report by VegOut Magazine. Drawing from extensive interviews with psychologists and peer-reviewed studies, the article uncovers eight core areas where gaze behavior provides insight into personal assurance, social anxiety, and even intercultural competence, offering practical lessons for Thais navigating workplace, family, and public interactions.

A new in-depth look at the integration of computer technology in education reveals both transformative benefits and complex challenges, offering a fresh perspective for Thai educators and policymakers seeking a balanced approach to digital learning (Lafayette College). The findings, based on a comprehensive classroom study at Lafayette College, showcase how computer science education is being reimagined to foster critical thinking, ethical awareness, and cross-disciplinary dialogue—signaling vital cues for Thailand as it accelerates its national “Thailand 4.0” agenda.

A new study shows that adopted teenagers approach romance and relationships about the same as non-adopted youths. The findings challenge old assumptions about adoption and adolescent adjustment and offer reassurance to families and educators in Thailand and beyond.

In Thailand, attitudes toward adoption are evolving, yet misconceptions linger. Some parents and teachers worry that adopted youths may face emotional or social challenges in dating and intimacy. The latest evidence suggests these fears may be overstated.

A new study in The Journal of Social Psychology links national narcissism to emotional impairment, showing that people with inflated pride in their country struggle to recognize their own emotions and the emotions of others. This emotional gap is connected to a greater tendency to dehumanize others, including fellow citizens and outsiders.

The findings resonate beyond academia. In Thailand, where social harmony and peaceful coexistence are valued, understanding the emotional roots of nationalist attitudes can guide educators, policymakers, and communities. As debates over identity and global migration continue, these insights support efforts to nurture emotionally intelligent and cohesive societies.

A new controversy has erupted in academic circles after investigators uncovered that a group of international researchers embedded secret instructions—so-called “hidden AI prompts”—within preprint manuscripts to influence AI-powered peer review systems toward more favorable feedback. The revelations were detailed in recent reports, following a data-driven exposé that found 17 preprint articles on the arXiv platform with covert commands instructing AI models to deliver only positive reviews, avoid criticism, and even explicitly recommend the work for its novelty and methodological rigor. This manipulation was achieved through invisible white text or minuscule fonts, remaining undetected by human readers but fully readable by AI engines tasked with the review process (Nikkei Asia, ExtremeTech, Japan Times).

A growing body of research shows how leaders with narcissistic traits respond when confronted with errors. High-profile figures, including former political leaders, often react defensively or aggressively. Findings suggest these patterns reflect broader dynamics in workplaces and governments worldwide, with clear implications for Thailand’s evolving business, public sector, and academic communities.

Narcissistic leaders tend to deny mistakes, blame others, gaslight critics, minimize issues, erupt in anger, withdraw, or cast themselves as victims when errors surface. These responses reflect fragile self-esteem that cannot tolerate personal fault. Understanding these dynamics helps Thai organizations manage risk, preserve trust, and sustain learning as the country modernizes its institutions.

Meditation is widely praised for reducing stress, improving focus, and supporting mental health. In Thailand, where Buddhist tradition intersects with urban wellness programs and school curricula, meditation is becoming part of everyday life. New findings from Harvard Medicine’s Meditation Research Program show that for many practitioners, meditation can trigger unsettling experiences. This prompts important conversations about safety and guidance in mental health care.

A large Harvard study published in Clinical Psychological Science found that more than a third of adults who meditate report occasional altered states of consciousness. About one in eight experience moderate to severe distress after these episodes. The researchers stressed that these experiences can be vivid and transformative, ranging from altered perception to intense emotional reactions. The lead investigator noted these experiences are more common than many clinicians expect, underscoring the need for informed guidance in practice.

A new study shows that positive attitudes toward artificial intelligence are linked to a greater risk of problematic social media use. For Thailand, where digital life is rapidly growing, the findings raise important questions for educators, parents, and policymakers about digital literacy and mental health.

Thailand is pushing forward with digital transformation in daily life and public services. Research cited by PsyPost indicates that people who view AI positively are more likely to engage in social media in ways that can become excessive or addictive. Data from Thailand shows widespread social media use and substantial daily screen time, underscoring the relevance of these results for Thai communities.

A recent study published in The Journal of Social Psychology has revealed a provocative link between national narcissism and emotional impairments, echoing global worries about rising divisiveness and prejudice. Individuals exhibiting high national narcissism—an extreme form of national pride characterized by a hunger for recognition and hypersensitivity to criticism—show diminished ability to understand both their own and others’ emotions. The research also connects these emotional deficits to increased tendencies toward dehumanization, affecting perceptions of both outsiders and fellow citizens within their own nation (PsyPost).

Adopted teenagers navigate the world of romance and relationships in much the same way as their non-adopted peers, according to new research published recently. The study, highlighted by PsyPost, challenges longstanding assumptions about adoption and adolescent adjustment, offering reassurance to families and educators in Thailand and around the world.

This finding is of particular significance in Thailand, where societal attitudes towards adoption have slowly shifted but misconceptions persist. Parents and educators often worry that adopted youths may struggle emotionally or socially in ways that their non-adopted counterparts do not—especially in areas as complex as teenage love, dating, and intimacy.

Meditation, long celebrated as a path to tranquility, stress relief, and self-understanding, is now central to millions of lives globally and increasingly recommended by clinicians for anxiety and depression. Yet, recent research from Harvard Medical School’s Meditation Research Program uncovers a more complicated reality: for a significant number of practitioners, meditation can generate unsettling or even distressing experiences, sparking crucial new conversations in the mental health and wellness fields (Harvard Gazette).

A fresh wave of psychological research is offering valuable insights into why high-profile figures such as former US president Donald Trump—and other leaders with pronounced narcissistic traits—react so defensively, or even aggressively, when confronted with evidence of their own mistakes. Drawing on interviews, recent peer-reviewed studies, and organizational psychology, experts say these reactions are not just personality quirks, but reflect deeper dynamics in workplaces and governments worldwide—raising profound questions about power, accountability, and the future of leadership, including in Thailand’s evolving corporate, political, and academic environments.

A groundbreaking study published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances has revealed that everything we perceive visually is not in real time, but actually an average of what we saw up to 15 seconds ago—a revelation that could fundamentally reshape our understanding of human perception and consciousness. This research, led by teams from the University of Aberdeen and University of California, Berkeley, suggests our brains constantly merge recent visual history to present us with a stable, coherent world—essentially tricking us into viewing a smooth, illusionary reality (Popular Mechanics; Science.org; UNILAD).

A landmark study in Science Advances reveals that our visual perception is not in real time; instead, the brain blends recent images over roughly the last 15 seconds to create a stable view of the world. This finding shows how the mind smooths rapid changes to maintain coherence, a process that shapes everyday life from driving to learning.

For Thai readers, the implications are immediate. Visual processing affects safety on crowded roads, athletic performance, and the way information is presented in classrooms and on screens. In a society saturated with smartphones, understanding this lag helps people navigate a fast-moving environment more effectively and with greater awareness of perceptual limits.

A global scare highlights how covert AI prompts in preprint papers can steer reviews toward praise. Investigations found 17 arXiv preprints containing hidden instructions that urged AI review models to be positive, avoid criticism, and even support publication for novelty and rigor. The prompts used barely legible text unread by humans but readable by AI.

This issue matters beyond a technical trick. As large language models become more common in research tasks, the integrity of peer evaluation could be at risk. For Thailand, where academic quality underpins national progress and international collaboration, the incident raises questions about safeguarding trust in science amid sophisticated digital manipulation.

A new psychological study suggests that the way children are parented—especially when that parenting is cold, abusive, or overly controlling—can have lasting effects on their adult lives, with certain personality traits serving as the connecting thread. Published in Psychological Reports, the research sheds light on why negative parenting is tied to later emotional, social, and occupational difficulties, and points to the key role of personality traits such as conscientiousness in explaining this link (PsyPost).

A new analysis released on July 6, 2025, from a respected behavioral expert highlights that humans are born with core dispositions—what the author calls “basic humanity.” As we grow, we navigate these primal instincts and often contradict them. The study explores how inner drives shape well-being and social interaction, with clear relevance for Thai families, schools, and communities.

Thai culture has long valued harmony, interdependence, and emotional restraint. At the same time, modernization pushes toward individual autonomy. The findings help explain Thai family dynamics, classroom relationships, and workplace culture, tying into current discussions on mental health in Thailand and beyond. Data from local health and education authorities show growing interest in how innate drives influence daily life and social well‑being.

A newly published international study has confirmed what many Thais may intuitively sense—feeling good can actually help us remember more, even when the subject matter itself is boring or meaningless. In ground-breaking research led by scientists from Hangzhou Normal University and Nanjing Normal University, the team demonstrated that positive emotions during learning measurably enhance our ability to recall information, offering potential life-changing applications for students, teachers, and anyone aiming to boost brain power (Neuroscience News; MedicalXpress; News-Medical).