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American Psychologist

Highlights

Free article summaries, press releases, editor interviews, journal awards, mentorship opportunities, and more

American Psychologist names John Ruiz next editor-in-chief

John M. Ruiz, PhD, professor at the University of Arizona, has been named the next editor-in-chief of American Psychologist.
October 2026
Press Release

Friends may influence prejudice toward outgroups, and more scientific findings

Summaries of research from psychology and related fields.
July 2026
Research in Brief

How to support young people on the road to adulthood

High housing costs, a tough labor market, and a climate of uncertainty cause many to delay classic adult milestones.
June 2026
Monitor on Psychology

Shared positive emotions, stress relief, experiencing awe, and more scientific findings

Among other things, research finds that spending time with a partner may boost a person’s emotional and physiological states, young children connect praise being given with the work being praised, and watching videos with inspirational stories may have stress-relieving effects on par with listening to guided meditations.
March 2026
Research in Brief

In Brief: Sense of purpose in life may preserve cognitive function, and more scientific findings

Summaries of research from psychology and related fields.
January 2026
Research in Brief

CE Corner: New APA guidelines address psychologists’ expanding role in prescribing medication

Modern psychology increasingly involves medication conversations, regardless of prescribing authority.
January 2026
Monitor on Psychology

Why swearing makes you stronger

Research shows that swearing can boost physical performance by reducing inhibition and increasing focus, confidence, and endurance.
December 2025
Press Release

Self-affirmations can boost well-being, study finds

Brief self-affirmation exercises that help people reflect on their core values and strengths can significantly boost well-being, reduce anxiety, and promote lasting happiness across age groups and cultures, according to research published by APA.
October 2025
Press Release

Loneliness interventions help but are not a cure-all

A comprehensive review published by APA finds that interventions—particularly psychological and in-person approaches—can effectively reduce loneliness, though more rigorous, tailored strategies are needed to address this growing global public health issue.
October 2025
Press Release

Navigating firearm safety discussions in clinical settings

How respectful, values-based conversations help patients stay safe.
July 2025
Monitor on Psychology

Exercise and cognition, active learning, negotiation gender gap

For most people, any kind of exercise (even one-time workouts) has immediate benefits for cognitive functioning. Plus many more research highlights.
June 2025
Research in Brief

Nurturing now, thriving later: The lasting power of affectionate mothering

Twin study demonstrates long-term impact of childhood warmth on personality traits, life outcomes.
April 2025
Press Release

A concrete expression of APA’s historic apology

Special issue of American Psychologist highlights research and strategies for reducing inequities toward communities of color
November 2024
Monitor on Psychology

Research on race and racism

Many of the year's most-read journal articles covered research on social media, with others exploring leadership, cognitive behavioral therapy, and adverse childhood experiences.
November 2024
Monitor on Psychology

People prefer to work with higher-paid colleagues

Workers prefer to collaborate with higher-paid colleagues but tend to hire subordinates with a lower salary history, highlighting the impact of pay transparency on workplace behavior.
September 2024
Press Release

Only children are often misunderstood. Take a closer look at the science

Recent studies indicate long-standing negative stereotypes do not hold true.
September 2024
Monitor on Psychology

Boredom, loneliness, victim blaming, brain size, and more scientific research

Highlights of peer-reviewed studies in psychology and related fields.
September 2024
Research in Brief

APA Community new member benefit, APA presidential election, and more

Read about the International Brain Bee NextGen event and a new APA book on censorship.
September 2024
Monitor on Psychology

APA journal addresses racism in psychology

APA’s special issue of American Psychologist addresses the history of racism within the field of psychology, highlighting research on systemic inequities and presenting actionable steps to advance racial equality.
July 2024
Press Release

Fighting stigma by mental health providers toward patients

Using person-first, nonstigmatizing language is crucial to overcoming biases and providing better treatment.
July 2024
Monitor on Psychology

Addressing equity and ethics in artificial intelligence

Algorithms and humans both contribute to bias in AI, but AI may also hold the power to correct or reverse inequities among humans.
April 2024
Monitor on Psychology

In brief: Pets can help reduce anxiety, boredom during tests negatively impacts results, and more research

The latest peer-reviewed studies within psychology and related fields.
January 2024
Research in Brief

The science behind creativity

Psychologists and neuroscientists are exploring where creativity comes from and how to increase your own.
January 2024
Monitor on Psychology

Specialized care for immigrants experiencing trauma is vital. Psychologists are breaking down the mental health barriers

Record numbers of people are seeking residency and refuge in the United States, but structural barriers make it hard for many to thrive.
November 2023
Monitor on Psychology

CE corner: How to promote mental health among Asian American teens

The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the mental health stressors this vulnerable population faces.
July 2023
Monitor on Psychology

CE corner: That salad isn’t just good for your nutrition–it may help stave off depression

Growing evidence suggests consuming healthy foods and micronutrients fosters better mental health, while poor-quality diets diminish it.
June 2023
Monitor on Psychology

How psychologists can help achieve equity in health care: Advancing innovative partnerships and models of care delivery

This featured article in this issue of APA Journals Article Spotlight in a special issue of American Psychologist seeks to inspire the development of strategies that psychologists may use to identify and mitigate health inequities.
April 2023
APA Journals Article Spotlight

Here’s how psychologists are serving patients with lower incomes

Clinicians are working to expand payment options, increase telehealth offerings, adjust their hours, and more to reach economically disadvantaged patients.
March 2023
Monitor on Psychology

People save more money when their goals fit their personality traits

People whose savings goals align well with their dominant personality traits are more likely to save money and interventions can help low-income savers meet their goals.
February 2023
Press Release

COVID-19 pandemic led to increase in loneliness around the world

People around the world experienced an increase in loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, although small, could have implications for people’s long-term mental and physical health, longevity, and well-being.
May 2022
Press Release

Public psychology: Cultivating socially engaged science for the 21st century

This special issue of American Psychologist aims to expand the definition and practice of psychology to include applications to human welfare in this issue of APA Journals Article Spotlight.
February 2022
APA Journals Article Spotlight

Read the opening editorial by Editor Harris Cooper

American Psychologist Editor Harris Cooper shares his perspective upon joining the journal
January 2022
APA PsycNet

Studying societal change: Novel methods and theoretical advances in psychology

This special issue of American Psychologist brings together a range of innovative theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches to address the “What,” the “Why,” and the “How” of cultural change in this issue of APA Journals Article Spotlight.
January 2022
APA Journals Article Spotlight

Keeping youth engaged in school

The Developmental and Motivation Research Lab at the University of Pittsburgh studies what motivates youth to stay interested in learning.
January 2022
Monitor on Psychology

President's column: How we moved the needle on health equity

Psychology has an outsize role in providing solutions for society’s greatest challenges.
November 2021
Monitor on Psychology

For Black students, unfairly harsh discipline can lead to lower grades

Black students are often subject to harsher discipline at school than white students, and those punishments can damage students’ perceptions of their school and negatively impact their academic success years later.
October 2021
Press Release

Asian Americans: Model or marginalized minority?

Special issue of APA journal American Psychologist focuses on psychology of understudied group at a time of increased anti-Asian discrimination.
August 2021
Press Release

The history of LGBTQ psychology from Stonewall to now, with Peter Hegarty, PhD

Peter Hegarty, PhD, discusses his own research on auditory gaydar and continuing discrimination against LGBTQ people.
June 2021
Speaking of Psychology

The mental health impact of anti-Asian racism

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated xenophobia and bigotry toward Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Psychologists are identifying ways to address the distress caused by that hate.
April 2021
Monitor on Psychology

Finding strength in hardship

Destin’s work is centered on supporting young people from low-SES backgrounds to succeed using the tools they have developed because of their life circumstances.
March 2021
Monitor on Psychology

In brief

The latest news in psychology peer-reviewed studies.
March 2021
Research in Brief

How to discuss race with Black teens and their families

Black teens experience an average of five discriminatory encounters every day, research has shown. Learn how to identify the components of ethnic-racial socialization and their protective benefits in raising Black children.
January 2021
Monitor on Psychology

Personality traits affect shelter at home compliance

People low on openness and neuroticism are less likely to comply without strict government policies.
October 2020
Press Release

The psychology of American racism and how to work against it

The featured paper in this issue of APA Journals Article Spotlight details seven factors that continue to affect American racism and recommendations to reverse this process.
August 2020
APA Journals Article Spotlight

Studying vaping behavior to improve public health

The Center for the Study of Tobacco Products partners with with chemists, engineers, and other researchers to understand how e-cigarettes work.
July 2020
Monitor on Psychology

Study: Loneliness did not appear to increase during COVID-19 pandemic

Americans may have found new ways to connect with, support one another despite distancing recommendations, stay-at-home orders, research finds.
June 2020
Press Release

How will people react to the new financial crisis?

Psychological research on past financial disasters offers guidance on how people respond to sudden economic calamity.
June 2020
Monitor on Psychology

Working together against racism

Historically, psychological research has been used both to fight and to perpetuate racism.
April 2020
Monitor on Psychology

Countering stereotypes about Asian Americans

Asian Americans are often overlooked in discussions of racial bias in the United States.
December 2019
Monitor on Psychology

News from APA Publishing

APA Journals Resources