#Socialcohesion

Groundbreaking research from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf has illuminated the double-edged effects of stress: while it binds people more closely to their in-group, it simultaneously drives hostility toward perceived outsiders. Published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the findings provide a nuanced neurobiological perspective on why group conflicts—even when costly to all—remain so persistent worldwide. This research offers valuable insights into the psychological forces underpinning social divisions, with implications for Thai society and global communities navigating rising polarization.

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).

Archaeologists are unearthing powerful insights from 900-year-old circular villages in southern France, revealing that age-old architectural techniques continue to influence how today’s neighborhoods are built—and how societies function within them. Recent research into these so-called “circulades” sheds new light on urban design principles that remain psychologically effective even in Thailand and other rapidly modernizing nations.

These medieval rings—deliberately arranged around central churches or castles in concentric circles—weren’t merely a response to architectural trends of the era. Instead, they reflect a deep, almost instinctive understanding of how urban space shapes human behavior and community spirit. The ongoing study of more than 200 such settlements in the Languedoc region shows that their layouts promoted safety, trust, and economic mobility within their populations, echoing findings in both historical records and modern research (Journee Mondiale).