#WorkplaceWellbeing

A new wave of research warns that AI capable of humanlike emotions may blunt how people view real workers. In five experiments, psychologists found that emotionally adept machines can lead to what they call assimilation-induced dehumanization, where humans are deemed less worthy of empathy. The findings have immediate implications for Thailand, where service industries employ a large segment of the workforce and rely on genuine human connection.

Thailand’s service economy is poised to grow further as AI tools expand in hotels, tour operators, call centers, and retail. With roughly 46% of workers in service roles, emotional labor remains central to job performance and livelihoods. Policymakers, business leaders, and tech developers must consider how AI’s social presence could affect worker dignity and customer expectations.

A multi-experiment psychology study finds that interacting with autonomous agents that display socio-emotional skills can make people judge those machines as more humanlike — and, worryingly, judge other humans as less human and more acceptable to mistreat. The research, published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology and available via the London School of Economics repository, uses five controlled experiments to show a chain from perceiving emotional ability in AI to lower “humanness” ratings of people, and finally to real choices that disadvantage human workers (e.g., preferring a company linked with poor working conditions or withholding a small donation to support staff) (PsyPost coverage; study PDF; journal record).

Groundbreaking psychological research has uncovered an unsettling paradox at the heart of artificial intelligence development. When machines display emotional intelligence that closely mirrors human capabilities, people begin viewing actual humans as less worthy of compassion and humane treatment. This phenomenon, documented through five rigorous experiments published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, poses immediate risks for Thailand’s service-dependent economy, where millions of workers rely on human emotional connection for their livelihoods.

A new wave of science-backed thinking argues that scaring people about disease won’t get them off the sofa — but making movement feel fun just might. A recent commentary in New Scientist crystallised this pivot in approach, noting that fear of illness hasn’t motivated people to exercise, and proposing that it may be time to emphasise the enjoyable aspects of moving our bodies. The argument lands as fresh global data show physical inactivity is rising, with nearly one in three adults not meeting recommended activity levels in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners in The Lancet Global Health. If trends continue, inactivity could climb to 35% by 2030, putting the world further off track from agreed targets to reduce inactivity and fuelling the burden of heart disease, diabetes, dementia and some cancers. As WHO’s chief put it, the numbers represent a “lost opportunity” to improve health that requires bolder action and innovative motivation — including making physical activity accessible, affordable and enjoyable. For Thailand, where office work is expanding and sedentary time is high even as many adults still meet movement guidelines, the evidence points toward a simple cultural truth: sanuk — doing things in a way that feels enjoyable — may be our most powerful lever to build lifelong active habits that stick (New Scientist; WHO news release; The Lancet Global Health study).

A new wave of science says fear-based health campaigns don’t build lasting exercise habits. Instead, joyful, social, and easily accessible activity—rooted in Thailand’s own sanuk culture—may unlock higher participation and long-term health gains. Researchers emphasize that enjoying movement is more powerful than warning about disease risk, a shift with clear implications for Thai readers and policy makers alike.

Data from global health authorities show inactivity is a rising concern, with nearly one in three adults worldwide not meeting movement guidelines and projections suggesting continued growth unless interventions adapt. In Thailand, office work and urban living increase sedentary time, yet many adults still meet basic movement targets. Emerging evidence suggests sanuk—the Thai emphasis on making activities enjoyable—could be the country’s most effective strategy to cultivate sustainable physical activity and reduce chronic disease.

Groundbreaking research is fundamentally challenging decades of health messaging by demonstrating that fear-based exercise promotion fails to motivate sustained physical activity, while joy-centered approaches could unlock unprecedented participation rates across global populations struggling with rising inactivity. A comprehensive New Scientist analysis crystallized this paradigm shift in exercise psychology, arguing that traditional disease-prevention messaging has proven ineffective at encouraging movement, while strategies emphasizing enjoyable physical activity show remarkable promise for creating lifelong healthy habits. This scientific revolution arrives at a critical moment as World Health Organization data reveals physical inactivity affecting nearly one in three adults globally, with projections indicating 35 percent inactivity rates by 2030 unless dramatic interventions occur. For Thailand, where office work expansion creates increasing sedentary time despite many adults still meeting basic movement guidelines, emerging evidence points toward a profound cultural advantage: sanuk—the Thai emphasis on making activities enjoyable—may represent the nation’s most powerful strategy for building sustainable physical activity habits that prevent chronic diseases while enhancing quality of life.

A dire mental health crisis in Japan’s workforce has reached a historic peak, with official data showing more recognized cases of overwork-related death and disorders than ever before. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare confirmed 1,304 karoshi cases in fiscal year 2024, a rise of 196 from the previous year. This is not merely a statistic; it signals a fundamental strain in workplace safety and a culture that has, at times, valued productivity over personal wellbeing.

As rates of anxiety and related mental health issues continue to climb globally and locally, new research backed by the University of Cambridge and echoed by Thai mental health authorities points to novel coping strategies that may benefit the Thai public. Drawing on the latest international findings, actionable recommendations—like embracing imperfection, self-forgiveness, and fostering social connection—are gaining traction for their real-world impact on building mental strength and reducing anxiety’s grip.

Groundbreaking research from the University of Cambridge, combined with innovative approaches validated by Thai mental health authorities, has identified transformative strategies for managing anxiety that promise to revolutionize treatment approaches throughout Thailand. These science-backed interventions—emphasizing imperfection acceptance, self-compassion cultivation, and community connection—offer practical solutions for the growing mental health crisis affecting millions of Thai citizens across all demographics and socioeconomic levels.

Anxiety disorders, characterized by persistent worry, panic episodes, sleep disruption, and social withdrawal, affect the majority of individuals at some point during their lives, but become clinically significant when symptoms interfere with daily functioning, relationships, or professional productivity. For Thai communities, this represents an escalating concern with far-reaching implications: the Department of Mental Health reports that over 8% of the population experiences high stress levels, nearly 10% face depression risks, and more than 5% encounter suicide ideation, with youth demographics showing particularly alarming rates of psychological distress.

A new harmony of international research and Thai health insights offers practical, science-backed ways to ease anxiety across Thailand. Grounded in imperfection acceptance, self-compassion, and social connection, these strategies are designed to fit local culture and everyday life, helping communities build resilience.

Anxiety disorders cause persistent worry, sleep disruption, and social withdrawal. They can impair daily functioning and productivity. In Thailand, mental health authorities note rising stress and mood concerns across demographics. Data from Thailand’s mental health agencies show meaningful portions of the population experience high stress, depression risks, and loneliness, with young people disproportionately affected.

A surge in worldwide reports of workplace burnout, especially in high-pressure sectors like healthcare and technology, is sounding alarms for managers and employees in Thailand and beyond. According to the latest insight from a Harvard Business School executive, burnout is not a random occurrence—it strikes when three powerful forces collide: exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced efficacy. This framework, building on both organizational research and psychological science, challenges old assumptions about burnout and points toward new strategies for prevention and recovery (yourtango.com).

A pervasive wave of workplace burnout threatens the mental health of Thai workers across industries, from Bangkok’s corporate towers to rural schools. The stress of rapid economic change and evolving job roles is taking a toll on individuals and organizations alike.

New research from a leading business school confirms burnout follows a predictable pattern rather than striking at random. Three core forces converge to produce exhaustion, cynicism, and a decline in personal efficacy. This framework offers clear avenues for prevention and recovery that resonate with Thai communities and workplaces.

A significant new study has found that nearly one in three people experiences intense negative emotions simply from watching others fidget—an under-recognized social phenomenon known as misokinesia. This surprising discovery, published in the journal Scientific Reports, shines a spotlight on a little-discussed irritation that could reshape our understanding of social interaction, mental wellbeing, and even workplace dynamics (ScienceAlert; MSN).

For many Thais, enduring others’ repetitious movements—from bouncing knees on the BTS to pen-clicking in classrooms—is a daily challenge. However, this latest research marks the first comprehensive scientific attempt to map the prevalence and impact of such visual triggers, highlighting that far more of us are affected than previously thought. As the Thai workforce becomes increasingly urban and social environments grow denser, the findings have particular resonance for local readers facing crowded spaces and fast-changing societal norms.

A groundbreaking international study finds that roughly one in three people experience misokinesia — intense distress triggered by watching others’ repetitive movements such as foot-tapping, pen-clicking, or fidgeting. For Thailand’s crowded cities and collectivist culture, these findings have wide implications for workers, students, and families navigating bustling spaces from Bangkok’s transit hubs to tight office environments.

The research marks the first large-scale effort to map how visual movement triggers affect daily life. In Thailand, where enduring others’ small movements in crowded spaces is part of daily reality, these results illuminate a psychological challenge that has often gone unrecognized by schools and workplaces.

An epidemic of workplace burnout sweeps across Thailand’s rapidly modernizing economy, threatening the mental health of millions of workers from Bangkok’s gleaming towers to provincial hospitals and rural schools. Groundbreaking research from Harvard Business School executives reveals that burnout follows predictable patterns rather than striking randomly, emerging when three devastating psychological forces converge: profound exhaustion, growing cynicism, and diminishing sense of personal effectiveness—insights that offer hope for Thai families and organizations struggling with this invisible crisis.

Revolutionary psychological research reveals that nearly one in three people worldwide suffer from an unrecognized condition called misokinesia—intense emotional distress triggered by witnessing repetitive movements like foot-tapping, pen-clicking, or nervous fidgeting—findings with profound implications for Thailand’s increasingly dense urban environments and collectivist social culture. This groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports illuminates a widespread phenomenon that affects millions of Thai workers, students, and families navigating crowded spaces from Bangkok’s packed BTS trains to cramped office environments throughout the kingdom.

In an age where stress and emotional upheaval are everyday realities, groundbreaking research is shedding light on fast, practical ways to manage overwhelming feelings—without resorting to drastic historical remedies like bloodletting or even surgical procedures. According to the latest insights outlined by a University of Michigan psychology professor and an array of supporting studies, effective emotional management can happen in as little as nine minutes, drawing on scientifically validated strategies rather than outdated or invasive interventions (Big Think).

Recent research shows quick, practical ways to manage intense feelings without relying on outdated remedies. Insights from university psychology departments and supporting studies suggest you can improve emotional regulation in as little as nine minutes using evidence-based strategies. For Thai readers, this matters: our fast-paced work culture and close-knit communities can magnify stress, but science offers accessible tools.

Historically, societies turned to drastic measures to cope with distress. Today, scientists treat emotions as useful signals that, when understood and guided, can foster growth, stronger relationships, and better performance at work. The Thai context adds relevance: families and workplaces often blend high expectations with care, making effective emotion management particularly useful.

In Thai workplaces, relentless optimism can harm employees more than it helps. Leaders who push for constant cheer risk burnout and undermine psychological safety. As Thai firms recover from pandemic disruptions, suppressing negative feelings erodes trust, stalls growth, and lowers engagement. Experts urge leaders to foster honest, compassionate environments where a full range of emotions is welcome.

Thai culture has long tied positivity to resilience, guided by jai yen (a cool heart) and a preference for public harmony. Yet imported self-help slogans and “good vibes only” policies can stifle genuine communication. When negativity is dismissed, employees struggle to seek support or voice concerns. Recent analyses from workplace culture researchers highlight the fine line between healthy optimism and toxic positivity and why it matters for Thai teams.

Toxic positivity—a workplace culture that insists “every cloud has a silver lining”—is causing more harm than good, experts warn, pushing employees toward burnout and undermining psychological safety. As businesses across Thailand strive to uplift morale after the disruptions of the pandemic, mounting evidence suggests that masking or suppressing negative emotions with relentless optimism can worsen mental health, reduce trust, and even hinder organisational growth. Recent research and commentary from international and Asian experts point to the urgency for leaders to foster honest, compassionate workplaces where the full range of human emotion is accepted.

A global shift toward AI in the workplace is not just about productivity. In Thailand, experts warn that collaboration with machines could affect how employees feel and perform. This week, a call for deeper study highlights the emotional and psychological effects of AI-enabled work, especially for roles closely tied to automated systems.

For Thai audiences, the timing is right. Thailand is accelerating digital transformation across manufacturing, finance, and retail. As workers partner with AI and robotics, understanding the impact on mental health and morale becomes essential for policymakers and business leaders shaping the Kingdom’s future.

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly integrates into workplaces worldwide, mental health experts and researchers are sounding the alarm on the urgent need to investigate its emotional and psychological consequences. A recent call to action published in Psychology Today argues that while the technological capabilities of AI continue to dominate headlines, its less visible impact on human well-being—particularly for those whose livelihoods are increasingly intertwined with machines—deserves immediate and thorough research (Psychology Today).

The lines between extroversion and introversion are rarely clear-cut, according to the latest psychological research and expert commentary published in HuffPost’s “6 Signs That You Might Be An Extroverted Introvert” (HuffPost). As many Thais return to office life, social gatherings, and family reunions post-pandemic, the nuances of how we relate to others—and ourselves—have never felt more important. In a society known for its “kreng jai” culture (consideration for others and social harmony), understanding one’s place on the introvert-extrovert spectrum could be the key to better mental health and more harmonious relationships, both at home and work.

As Thai workplaces reopen and families gather again, understanding ambiverts—people who are outgoing in some moments but recharge best alone—helps communities connect more thoughtfully. A recent discussion about “6 Signs That You Might Be An Extroverted Introvert” spotlights a flexible sociability that resonates with Thai values of harmony and kreng jai, shaping how people interact at home, work, and in public life.

Experts say most people fall along a spectrum rather than in fixed boxes. The idea of an extroverted introvert mirrors everyday experience: enjoying social time while needing quiet moments to recover. In Bangkok’s busy rhythm and Thailand’s vibrant regional hubs, balancing public energy with private downtime is a common consideration.