{"title":"Corrigendum to “Understanding, Predicting, and Preventing Suicide: Recent Advances Using Digital and Computational Methods”","authors":"","doi":"10.1177/09637214261495919","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214261495919","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10802,"journal":{"name":"Current Directions in Psychological Science","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149173037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Corrigendum to “The Psychology of Poverty: Current and Future Directions”","authors":"","doi":"10.1177/09637214261493136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214261493136","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10802,"journal":{"name":"Current Directions in Psychological Science","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149093468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Flexible Brains + Structured Bodies: A Developmental Framework for Biological and Artificial Intelligence","authors":"Justin N. Wood, Samantha M. W. Wood","doi":"10.1177/09637214261469163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214261469163","url":null,"abstract":"What are the origins of intelligence? We argue that intelligence develops when flexible, domain-general brains adapt to experiences produced by structured, domain-optimized bodies. Brains are highly plastic and can assume many possible functional configurations, whereas bodies (e.g., retina, cochlea, skin, muscles) form relatively stable structures that shape the information available for learning. By filtering raw input into structured patterns, bodies generate the experiences that allow domain-general brains to develop domain-specific knowledge. Drawing on controlled-rearing studies of newborn animals and embodied AI models, we show how object perception—a core mental skill often viewed as innate—develops automatically when flexible neural networks adapt to first-person sensory experience. The body contributes at multiple stages: generating prenatal activity that establishes initial cortical organization, generating postnatal experiences that drive object learning, and structuring visual input to enhance object perception. Intelligence across biological and artificial systems emerges from the interaction between flexible brains and structured bodies.","PeriodicalId":10802,"journal":{"name":"Current Directions in Psychological Science","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148853407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Item Selection as the Cause and Solution to Validity Problems in Psychology","authors":"Elisa Altgassen, Oliver Wilhelm","doi":"10.1177/09637214261453302","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214261453302","url":null,"abstract":"The validity of psychological measures depends on the selection of indicators—a process often handled subjectively and informally. We highlight problems resulting from neglected aspects of indicator sampling and investigate how item selection can help to resolve pervasive validity issues (e.g., poor content coverage, jingle-jangle fallacies). We discuss three stages of item selection: Stage 1 defines the item universe, which requires a clear, nonoverlapping delineation of psychological constructs; Stage 2 creates an initial item pool through comprehensive approaches such as cumulative item pools to ensure full content coverage; and Stage 3 selects and compiles scales using psychometric optimization procedures. We provide a synthesis of traditional and expanding selection strategies specifically designed to safeguard different aspects of validity, such as maximizing content coverage and optimizing the nomological net (convergent/discriminant validity). Overall, rigorous consideration of item selection is crucial for significantly enhancing the generalizability and validity of psychological assessments. We advocate for viewing item sampling as a strategic intervention for validity enhancement rather than a passive, ritualistic filtering step.","PeriodicalId":10802,"journal":{"name":"Current Directions in Psychological Science","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148709603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Social Judgments of Generative AI Users","authors":"Samuel Meyers, Roman Briker, Yochanan E. Bigman","doi":"10.1177/09637214261466635","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214261466635","url":null,"abstract":"Generative AI (GenAI) use is transforming how people work, communicate, and make decisions, raising unique questions about how its users are judged—both by themselves and others. In this article, we offer a framework, grounded in attribution theory, to synthesize the literature and articulate a coherent account of how GenAI use shapes social evaluations of its users. Our framework unravels distinct patterns across actors’ and observers’ perspectives and competence and warmth dimensions, outlining how attributions shape social judgments of GenAI users in a predictable manner. We discuss implications for human-AI interaction research, attribution theory, and the literature on social judgment.","PeriodicalId":10802,"journal":{"name":"Current Directions in Psychological Science","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148612534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Desmond C. Ong, Amit Goldenberg, Michael Inzlicht, Anat Perry
{"title":"AI-Generated Empathy: Opportunities, Limits, and Future Directions","authors":"Desmond C. Ong, Amit Goldenberg, Michael Inzlicht, Anat Perry","doi":"10.1177/09637214261444274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214261444274","url":null,"abstract":"Greater numbers of people are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for empathy and emotional support. Here, we review and synthesize recent empirical work on how people perceive empathy from AI versus from humans. Growing evidence points to two dueling effects and a paradox: AI produces language that is rated higher in empathy than language written by humans, but when people perceive text as coming from AI versus a human, they rate it as less empathic. However, despite sometimes rating AI more empathic or having to wait for human empathy, people still show a preference for human empathy. This emerging literature carries significant implications for fundamental research on empathy and for public discourse as the use of AI for emotional support continues to grow.","PeriodicalId":10802,"journal":{"name":"Current Directions in Psychological Science","volume":"222 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148416761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julia Espinosa, Camila Cavalli, Mariana Bentosela, Anindita Bhadra, Jeffrey R. Stevens
{"title":"Beyond WEIRD Humans and STRANGE Dogs: Using Big-Team Science to Improve Generalizability and Reproducibility in Comparative Psychology","authors":"Julia Espinosa, Camila Cavalli, Mariana Bentosela, Anindita Bhadra, Jeffrey R. Stevens","doi":"10.1177/09637214261450055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214261450055","url":null,"abstract":"Canine science aims to understand dogs as a species uniquely adapted to live alongside humans. Research has increased exponentially but struggles with representativeness and generalizability. Here we discuss key issues and identify solutions through big-team science innovation and collaboration and a global network. Sampled populations are usually from the Global North, where researchers and guardians can be characterized by WEIRD attributes and dogs may be shaped by STRANGE factors, severely limiting generalizability across locations and overall replicability. Big-team science provides an ideal avenue for overcoming some of these biases and including diverse perspectives and populations, fostering global collaboration.","PeriodicalId":10802,"journal":{"name":"Current Directions in Psychological Science","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148409075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Naomi I. Eisenberger, Russell Noble, Maria Naclerio
{"title":"The Benefits of Prosocial Behavior for Mental and Physical Health: A Neuroscience Approach","authors":"Naomi I. Eisenberger, Russell Noble, Maria Naclerio","doi":"10.1177/09637214261459027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214261459027","url":null,"abstract":"Prosocial behaviors, or actions intended to benefit others, embody the most selfless aspects of our nature. However, these behaviors can also benefit the giver. Prior work suggests that prosocial behavior can generate feelings of reward, increase mental and physical health, and decrease mortality in the giver. The investigation of the nature of these benefits, however, is still nascent, with an emphasis on outcomes rather than mechanisms. Here, we review neural and behavioral evidence suggesting that this unique profile of benefits arises from prosocial behavior’s engagement of the mammalian caregiving system, which reinforces caregiving behavior and dampens threat responses. Specifically, we review the neural regions critical to caregiving and prosocial behavior as well as experimental evidence showing that prosocial behavior can causally improve correlates of mental and physical health. We suggest that prosocial behavior benefits physical and mental health by attenuating physiological stress responses and generating feelings of social connection, purpose, and meaning.","PeriodicalId":10802,"journal":{"name":"Current Directions in Psychological Science","volume":"79 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148409077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Introduction to the Special Issue on Human and Machine Intelligence","authors":"Robert L. Goldstone","doi":"10.1177/09637214261450881","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214261450881","url":null,"abstract":"The 11 articles in this special issue of <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Current Directions in Psychological Science</jats:italic> examine the converging and diverging paths of human and artificial intelligence (AI) to illuminate the foundations of intelligent behavior. By comparing the mechanisms and limitations of human and machine cognition, these articles reveal how each field can inform the other. Discussed applications of AI to psychology include building computational models of mental processes, automating analyses of rich behavior, automating the generation of materials and procedures for studies in psychology, and providing personal assistants and coaching. Applications of psychology to AI include generating ideas for future AI algorithms by considering how humans reason and applying analysis techniques from psychology to understand AI. Together, the articles advance a broad conception of intelligence that spans humans, machines, and their increasingly intertwined collaborations.","PeriodicalId":10802,"journal":{"name":"Current Directions in Psychological Science","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148379782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}