#Psychology

Recent scientific research has revealed that individuals with narcissistic personality traits are more susceptible to developing an addiction to social networking sites, highlighting concerns about mental health in the digital age. This study, which synthesises findings from multiple prior investigations, offers important insights for Thai parents, teachers, and mental health professionals as social media use continues to surge across the kingdom.

The rise of social networking platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) has dramatically changed the way people interact, share information, and cultivate their identities. According to recent statistics, Thailand is among the world’s most active countries on social media, with over 52 million users as of 2024, accounting for more than 74% of the population (DataReportal). This trend has facilitated both increased social connectedness and, unfortunately, a growing prevalence of problematic or compulsive usage, sometimes classified as social networking site addiction (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

In the ever-evolving world of romance, playing “hard-to-get” remains one of the most debated dating strategies. A new empirical review, highlighted in a recent article by Psychology Today, dives deep into decades of research to determine whether creating an air of mystery and unavailability truly makes someone more attractive—or whether transparency and directness, particularly valued in today’s digital age, have rendered the tactic obsolete.

For Thai readers navigating both traditional values and modern dating trends, this discussion is highly relevant. The strategy of playing hard-to-get, which involves intentionally delaying responses, keeping intentions ambiguous, or sporadically signaling romantic interest, is familiar across cultures. In the Thai context, social etiquette often encourages subtlety and restraint in early stages of courtship, making it important to examine if scientific evidence supports, or challenges, these ingrained behaviors.

A compelling new psychology study suggests that the sensation of time “flying by” is more closely tied to periods of personal growth and satisfaction, rather than mundane routines or forgettable days. Published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the research fundamentally challenges the long-held belief that monotony compresses our memory of time, instead highlighting fulfillment and nostalgia as key drivers of our perceptions of how quickly life passes—even as we age (PsyPost).

A new psychology study suggests that the feeling of time “flying by” is driven more by personal growth and satisfaction than by dull routines. Published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the research challenges the idea that monotony makes memories feel shorter. Instead, fulfillment and nostalgia appear to shorten our sense of elapsed time.

For many people, including Thais, life often feels like years, semesters, or summers pass too quickly. In Thai culture, the expression “เวลาเหมือนสายน้ำ” (time is like a river) captures this shared sentiment, echoed during festivals such as Songkran and Loy Krathong. The study sheds light on why these moments seem to hurry by and what underlies that perception.

A quick look at how someone uses their phone can reveal more about personality than we might assume. New research shows a strong link between compulsive social media use and narcissistic traits. The study, conducted at the University of Gdańsk and published in the Journal of Research in Personality, suggests that excessive online activity goes beyond vanity and affects mental health and social wellbeing. For Thai readers, these findings come at a crucial time as social platforms are deeply woven into daily life and work.

A simple glance at someone’s phone habits may reveal more about their personality than previously thought. Recent psychological research has spotlighted compulsive social media use as a tell-tale sign of narcissistic tendencies, with experts warning of consequences that extend beyond the screen and into mental health and social wellbeing. The findings, anchored by a new study from the University of Gdańsk and published in the Journal of Research in Personality, provide timely insights—especially for countries like Thailand, where social platforms are woven deeply into daily life (Daily Mail).

A new peer-reviewed study has found that a six-week regimen of Muay Thai, Thailand’s national martial art, delivers significant improvements in participants’ quality of life, love of life, and self-control—offering fresh scientific evidence for the physical and psychological benefits long celebrated in Thai culture. The research, published on May 23, 2025 in Frontiers in Psychology, is among the first to rigorously examine how structured Muay Thai training impacts these key markers of mental health and happiness among university students (frontiersin.org).

A new peer-reviewed study shows that a six-week Muay Thai program can significantly boost quality of life, love of life, and self-control among university students. Conducted in Thailand and published in Frontiers in Psychology on May 23, 2025, the research adds rigorous evidence to long-held Thai beliefs about Muay Thai as a path to physical and mental wellness. Data from a controlled trial indicate meaningful gains for participants who trained, compared with a non-training group.

New research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has found that people are more likely to trust individuals who grew up in lower-income households, as compared to those who had privileged backgrounds. This finding, based on a series of experiments with nearly 2,000 participants, sheds light on the deep-rooted perceptions linking childhood hardship with morality and trustworthiness—a topic that resonates on both a global and a Thai societal level (Neuroscience News).

New research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology explores how childhood poverty influences trust. Across nearly 2,000 participants, people tended to trust those who grew up in lower-income households more than those from privileged backgrounds. The study links early hardship with perceived morality and reliability, a topic that resonates in both global and Thai contexts.

In Thailand, trust underpins friendships and workplace culture alike. The findings matter because they show how someone’s past, especially childhood conditions, can shape decisions about who to partner with or hire. In a society where family origins and social status influence reputations, understanding these trust dynamics can help foster fairer, more sincere interactions at work and in communities.

A groundbreaking study has revealed that today’s most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems possess emotional intelligence (EI) scores significantly higher than those of humans—a result with far-reaching implications for Thailand’s schools, workplaces, and counseling sectors. Research led by teams from the University of Geneva and the University of Bern found that six leading AI models, including ChatGPT and Gemini, consistently picked the most emotionally intelligent responses in standard EI assessments, achieving an average score of 82%. By contrast, human participants scored on average just 56%, highlighting a surprising edge for AI in handling emotionally charged scenarios (Neuroscience News).

A new study finds that today’s leading AI systems score higher on emotional intelligence (EI) tests than humans. Researchers from the University of Geneva and the University of Bern evaluated six top AI models, including ChatGPT and Gemini, and found AI averaged an EI score of 82% compared with humans at 56%. The results suggest AI can reliably recognize emotions and choose emotionally appropriate actions in simulated scenarios.

For Thai readers, where harmony and subtlety shape daily interactions, the idea of AI supporting education, coaching, and conflict resolution is both promising and challenging. In Thailand, cultural expectations such as kreng jai—prioritizing others’ feelings and avoiding direct confrontation—already influence classroom guidance and workplace discussions. The study, published in Communications Psychology, brings AI into the conversation about how best to nurture emotional skills in a Thai context.

A groundbreaking new study has revealed that nostalgic memories, once cherished for their sweet emotional comfort, become increasingly bittersweet as time passes. This research, published in the journal Cognition & Emotion, challenges commonly held beliefs about nostalgia and sheds light on how our feelings about the past evolve – a finding with deep resonance for Thai society, where memories of childhood, university, and cultural festivals are often deeply revered (PsyPost).

A wave of new research offers hope for people in Thailand and around the world who live with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Targeted cognitive training may reduce negative self-perceptions, a core symptom of these conditions, potentially improving mental health outcomes and quality of life.

In Thailand, the study’s relevance is clear. Cultural values around face, self-respect, and resilience shape how people experience mental illness. Negative self-beliefs can worsen symptoms, hinder daily functioning, strain families, and limit social and career opportunities—issues that matter deeply in a Thai context that emphasizes harmony and personal presentation.

A newly published study by University College London (UCL) researchers reveals that individuals who have taken antidepressants for more than two years are vastly more likely to suffer severe and long-lasting withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing the medication, compared to those prescribed antidepressants for less than six months. The findings, which come at a critical time as antidepressant prescriptions have soared worldwide, suggest that the duration of use is a key driver for withdrawal difficulty, potentially prompting a significant shift in how these medications are prescribed and managed both globally and in Thailand.

Recent findings from University College London show that people on antidepressants for more than two years are far more likely to experience severe and lasting withdrawal when stopping the medication than those who used them for under six months. With antidepressant prescriptions rising worldwide, the study suggests the duration of use strongly drives withdrawal difficulty and could influence prescribing and tapering practices in Thailand.

In Thailand, antidepressants such as SSRIs are commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety, reflecting international trends. Data from the UCL study indicate that long-term users have a tenfold higher risk of withdrawal compared with short-term users, and about one in four people who have taken antidepressants for more than two years report severe withdrawal symptoms. The growing acceptance of mental health treatment in Thai communities after the pandemic makes these findings highly relevant for patients and clinicians.

A new wave of research offers hope for individuals in Thailand and worldwide battling depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as cognitive training techniques show promise in reducing negative self-perceptions—a hallmark symptom of these mental health conditions. According to a recent report by PsyPost, targeted cognitive training interventions could reshape the way people with depression and PTSD view themselves, potentially supporting better mental health outcomes and overall quality of life.

For Thai readers, this research is particularly significant given the culture’s deep-rooted values around face, self-respect, and the importance placed on emotional resilience. Negative self-perceptions not only exacerbate mental health conditions but can also impede daily functioning, strain family relationships, and limit social and career opportunities—issues especially salient in the Thai context, where societal harmony and personal presentation are emphasized.

A new study challenges the idea that nostalgia is purely comforting. Researchers report that memories once cherished for their warmth can become increasingly bittersweet as years pass. Published in Cognition & Emotion, the work explores how the emotional tone of past events shifts over time and what this means for Thai readers who deeply value family, festivals, and collective memory.

Nostalgia has long been linked to positive outcomes—strengthening social bonds, supporting identity, and sustaining optimism. The latest research, led by Tim Wildschut and colleagues, reveals a more complex picture: repeated reflection on the past often carries a subtle undertone of sadness, and this duality grows with time.

A growing body of psychology highlights a silent crisis in performance-driven societies: burnout among high achievers. A recent Forbes article published May 20, 2025, identifies three clear signs that relentless striving can turn self-worth into a burden, offering timely guidance for Thailand’s competitive workplaces, classrooms, and homes.

The piece describes a familiar pattern: bursts of intense productivity followed by deep fatigue, dwindling motivation, and an identity crisis as achievement eclipses well-being. With pressure rising across Thai offices, universities, and households to meet ever-higher standards, the message resonates in a society where success milestones often define personal worth.

A surge in dating app use among younger generations is taking a significant mental and emotional toll, with psychologists warning of a growing epidemic called “dating burnout.” According to a 2024 Forbes Health/OnePoll survey, almost 80% of Gen Z and Millennials report feeling exhausted by the experience — a figure echoed by global and local research into the widespread effects of digital dating fatigue. For Thailand’s young urbanites, increasingly turning to apps to expand their social circles or seek relationships, the findings raise crucial questions about the impact of online matchmaking on wellbeing and how to approach romantic connections in the digital era Forbes.

A new wave of relationship advice is making headlines for its simplicity and profound impact: the “30-second rule,” a guideline promoted by renowned couples therapist Terrence Real, is emerging as a game-changer in how we communicate and manage conflict in everyday conversations. According to recent interviews—and a viral article by Upworthy—the rule’s basic premise is that positive, attentive engagement for just half a minute can help anyone, even those who feel awkward or anxious, “win” conversations by creating greater understanding and connection (Upworthy).

A new wave of psychology research shows a clear link between narcissism and addiction to social networking sites. As Thai society embraces digital life, these findings offer timely insights for program designers, educators, and families working to safeguard mental well-being.

Experts say the study helps explain why some people become dependent on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The research, summarized by a reputable science outlet, builds on the idea that social media functions as a stage for self-promotion and constant validation. In Thailand, where smartphone ownership and internet access are among the highest in Southeast Asia, the implications are especially relevant.

The intricate dance between anticipation, disappointment, and the transformative act of letting go is gaining new clarity thanks to cutting-edge neuroscience research, shedding light on processes that profoundly shape daily life—including in Thai culture where expectations about work, education, and family run deep. A new analysis featured in Psychology Today explores how our mental forecasts, or expectations, can alter not only our experiences but also our emotional wellbeing, with implications for health, education, and societal harmony (psychologytoday.com).

A recent psychological study published in Cognition & Emotion has shed new light on how our memories of the past, particularly nostalgic ones, evolve with the passage of time—becoming less sweet and more bitter. The findings, shared by researchers led by a UK-based psychologist and his team, challenge long-held assumptions about the nature of nostalgia and its role in our emotional well-being (PsyPost).

For Thai readers, who often reflect fondly on childhood, school days, or festival seasons such as Songkran and Loy Krathong, this research offers fresh insight into the complex emotional tapestry of nostalgia. In Thai culture, looking back on the past is not only a personal affair but a collective experience frequently woven into family reunions, university alumni gatherings, and temple fairs. Understanding how nostalgia’s emotional flavor shifts is especially relevant today, as many Thais confront rapid social change, urbanization, and dislocation from their roots.