Psychology Club at BCC

03/18/2026

📈 We tend to assume that pretending to be someone we are not is exhausting — but is it always? A new study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin took a closer look at openness, one of the five core personality traits, and found some surprising results.

Researchers tracked 191 people over 14 days, collecting more than 14,000 in-the-moment observations. When participants acted more open than their usual selves — showing more curiosity, creativity, or receptivity to new ideas — they actually reported higher positive affect and lower exhaustion. There was no increase in negative feelings either.

When it comes to openness, acting out of character does not appear to come at a psychological cost. In fact, it may be a bit of a boost.

Read more in : https://ow.ly/fGbf50YvPo8

09/26/2025

🤔Fascinating new research from Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin challenges what we think we know about persuasion.

When trying to convince someone, most of us assume that more arguments equal better results. But this study reveals a surprising paradox: while using many arguments does make you appear more knowledgeable and expert, it simultaneously makes you seem like you have ulterior motives.

These two perceptions work against each other, often resulting in no net benefit to your persuasiveness. The researchers found that the effectiveness of using many versus few arguments depends entirely on what your audience values more - expertise or authenticity.

This has important implications for anyone trying to influence others, from marketers to educators to everyday conversations.

Read more in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin: https://ow.ly/BsPY50X2erF

07/29/2025