: Psychopathy encompasses a range of personality traits, including deceitfulness, lack of empathy, impulsivity, and antisociality. While it has often been assumed that extremists are inherently psychopathic, this assumption lacks solid empirical support. Two studies examined this relationship. Using public and legal reports on right-wing extremists and Islamists in Study 1 and PIRUS (Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States) data on Islamists in Study 2, psychopathy was assessed with the PCL-R. Results showed that extremists diverge from full-spectrum psychopathy. Specifically, they exhibited elevated psychopathic traits in Facets 1 (Interpersonal) and 2 (Affective), at levels comparable to or exceeding those of other offenders, whereas Facets 3 (Parasitic Lifestyle) and 4 (Antisocial) were considerably less pronounced. Notably, the Interpersonal Facet was especially characteristic of lone actors, whereas the Affective Facet predicted radicalization intensity. These findings suggest that psychopathic traits in extremists may reflect processes associated within radicalization rather than inherent personality dispositions.
: Research from the past few decades has pointed to a clear link between both basic and so-called aversive personality traits - such as narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy - and crime. Across two studies, we herewith contribute to the literature on personality and crime by providing evidence on how the Dark Factor of Personality (D) - the common core underlying all aversive traits - relates to criminal behavior. We examined this relation not only through self-reported criminal prosecutions (Study 1, n = 7,026) but also by linking D to a broad range of officially registered criminal convictions recorded over a 41-year period (Study 2, n = 11,979). Results from both studies provide clear and consistent evidence of a positive association between D and crime. In brief, this research highlights the relevance of D in accounting for not only self-reported criminal behavior but also actual convictions.
: In this conceptual replication, we examined differences in adolescents' math competence-related beliefs across broader racial/ethnic groups (African-American, Asian-American, European-American, and Latin & eacute;-American) and assessed whether these patterns were replicated among male and female students across four US datasets. The datasets included 32,170 adolescents in 9th to 12th grade (51% male, 12% African-Americans, 10% Asian-Americans, 45% European-Americans, 33% Latin & eacute;-Americans). We applied meta-analytic techniques by calculating both dataset-specific and overall effect sizes to examine the robustness and heterogeneity of racial/ethnic differences within gender groups. On average, African-American students reported higher math competence-related beliefs after controlling for parent education, income, and students' achievement. In total, 60% of the observed racial/ethnic differences for the full sample of each dataset did not replicate among either gender. Moreover, greater variation across racial/ethnic groups emerged among female than male students. These two patterns highlight the importance of applying an intersectional lens when understanding adolescents' math competence-related beliefs.
: Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis (MA) is an advanced method for synthesizing research by using raw data from individual studies rather than using aggregated statistics. IPD-MA offers higher statistical power and flexibility, thereby enabling researchers to standardize measures, explore subgroup effects, and examine sources of variability often inaccessible in traditional MA. While common in clinical fields, IPD-MA remains less prevalent in psychology, partly due to challenges in data access and perceived complexity. This primer provides a nonmathematical introduction to IPD-MA, outlining its core concepts (the what), the main phases of implementation (the how), and its potential to address the credibility crisis in psychological science and offer novel insights through diverse applications (the why). We conclude with guidance on data sharing practice and infrastructure. We aim to promote IPD-MA as a transformative tool for improving cumulative knowledge consolidation, replicability, open science practices, as well as theoretical and methodological development in psychology.
: Affective polarization - defined as the disparity between in-party positive sentiment and out-party negative sentiment - has become a central concern due to its relation to democratic backsliding, declining trust, and social fragmentation. While once seen as a mere US phenomenon, recent studies reveal its global relevance across diverse political systems. Based on a systematic review, we present two evidence gap maps that offer an overview of existing research on determinants, consequences, and interventions. Although affective polarization has been linked to severe societal impacts, systematic analyses remain scarce. Our maps indicate the relative dominance of political science in affective polarization research and reveal gaps, especially in non-Western contexts and regarding behavioral outcomes. By identifying these blind spots, this review provides a roadmap for future research and informs strategies to mitigate affective polarization's effects. Meta-analyses based on evidence gap maps are proposed as a tool for structuring and advancing future, ideally interdisciplinary, research.
: This study examines the predictive validity of the HEXACOD personality model, which extends HEXACO by adding the Disintegration (D) factor to capture psychosis proneness. Based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of trait-outcome associations, we created three meta-analytic evidence gap maps (MetaEGMs) to visualize research coverage and identify gaps. Outcomes were grouped using three taxonomies: affects-behaviors-cognitions-desires (ABCD), theory of planned behavior (TPB), and life domains. Results support increased predictive validity for various Health, Citizenship, Social Life, Affects, and Cognitions outcomes. However, key areas such as motivational constructs and Finance, Leisure, and Achievement outcomes remain underexplored. Moderate average effect sizes and considerable heterogeneity highlight the need to examine moderators such as culture, age, and sample type. Future studies should focus on specific outcomes and diverse populations to improve precision and generalizability. Overall, the findings support the HEXACOD model's predictive value and offer a clear avenue for future personality research.
: The imposter phenomenon refers to an intense, persistent feeling of inferiority and undeserved success by often high-achieving individuals and is associated with negative psychological consequences. Previous research has shown that the imposter phenomenon is closely related to perfectionism. However, some recent findings suggest that this relationship is not consistent across different dimensions of perfectionism, specifically perfectionistic strivings (PS) and perfectionistic concerns (PC). We conducted a meta-analysis of studies reporting these correlations to provide mean estimates of the disparate relationships. Twenty-six records providing 91 unique effect sizes were included. The mean reliability-adjusted correlation with the imposter phenomenon was significantly smaller for PS (z = .159, 95% CI [.051, .268]) than for PC (z = .747, 95% CI [.632, .863]). Partial correlations revealed that PS showed no unique relationship with the imposter phenomenon (z = -.069, 95% CI [-.179, .041]), whereas the unique relationship for PC was strong (z = .783, 95% CI [.547, 1.020]).
: Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have emerged as transformative tools across various research fields. To illustrate the development of perceived benefits and concerns of LLMs across research fields, this umbrella review synthesized findings from 116 systematic reviews. Additionally, we employed LLM-supported data extraction and reported its promising evaluation. Applications in medicine and education dominate the literature, with accuracy and reliability as prominent challenges across disciplines and generally more benefits mentioned than concerns. Thematic analysis of most benefits within the field of psychology revealed LLMs' potentials in empathy and emotional awareness simulation, help with clinical decision-making, and supporting interventions. There were no clear temporal shifts in the perception of LLMs, except for decreasing benefits in ethics and decreasing concerns in education. To inform further research on interdisciplinary applications of LLMs, we have made our full data set consisting of nearly 3,800 extracted benefits and 3,400 concerns publicly available.
: This study used data from 7,436 patients across seven psychosomatic rehabilitation clinics to explore predictors of treatment success and to assess the feasibility of predicting rehabilitation outcomes using machine learning. Five outcomes based on the biopsychosocial model - activity, depressive symptoms, participation, phobic fears, and somatoform complaints - were derived from the HEALTH-49 and ICF AT-50 Psych. The outcomes were dichotomized to indicate relevant change from admission (T1) to discharge (T2). Random forests using baseline scores, PAREMO-20, and SIMBO-C items, treatment year, clinic, sex, and age, outperformed all dummy classifiers, yielding accuracies between 63.0% (participation) and 75.9% (phobic fears). Feature importances revealed baseline scores as key predictors. Skepticism toward rehabilitation predicted all outcomes except phobic fears, while willingness to change predicted all outcomes except depressive symptoms. Difficulties in social interaction impacted depressive symptoms and phobic fears. Work-related challenges were key predictors for activity and participation. Age, sex, year, and clinic had no impact.
: Psychological theories should meet scientific criteria such as objectivity, coherence, and nontautology. We argue that theories formulated as verbal narratives often fail to meet these standards and propose that all psychological theories should be formally specified to ensure compliance with these requirements. We recommend: (i) requiring authors of new theories to provide sufficient formal specification before publication by changing standards and extending publication manuals; (ii) increasing incentives for the specification of existing theories by introducing a dedicated category of theory specification papers; (iii) encouraging researchers who aim to empirically test a theory to specify the relevant aspects before doing so, if required; (iv) fostering the development of improved theory specification methodologies through methodological debates and consensus-building processes; and (v) enhancing psychology education by incorporating fundamental philosophy of science concepts and formal theory specification techniques. We review theory specification approaches in psychology that can be used to implement these recommendations.
: In the wake of the replication crisis, it has been argued that many psychological theories do not sufficiently specify under which boundary conditions a hypothesized empirical effect occurs versus does not occur, which may explain why conceptual replications are sometimes unsuccessful. This reasoning implies that one path toward theory building is to identify all boundary conditions and to integrate them into the respective theory underlying the effect. In this article, we argue that identifying boundary conditions is undoubtedly worthwhile, but it comes with the risk of overspecifying theories. Overspecification occurs when certain assumptions of a hypothesis or theory can be dropped without noticeable loss in explanatory power. We argue that identifying boundary conditions for an effect to occur can be fruitfully combined with testing for overspecification of a hypothesis or theory. Such a combined strategy can improve cumulative theory building and, thus, increase the efficiency and integrability of psychological research.
: In the present study, we apply a multimethod approach to examine understandings of racism and their relationship with antiracism engagement in Germany. We conducted a preregistered online survey with 147 participants. Open answers on participants' understandings of racism were analyzed using content analysis. Additionally, we quantitatively measured racism understandings and reported antiracism engagement at individual and structural levels, as well as self- and group efficacy, and zero-sum beliefs. After accounting for understandings of both, individualized and structural racism, only structural racism understanding was significantly associated with individual- and structural-level antiracism engagement. Efficacy beliefs were positively associated with individual- and structural-level antiracism engagement. We recommend that antiracism interventions promote awareness of structural racism and a sense of efficacy to increase antiracism engagement.
: Although psychological research in continental Europe increasingly focuses on diversity and migration, it rarely centers racism as a context for understanding lived experience. With racism and far-right politics on the rise, such work is imperative. In this conceptual paper, we advocate for greater research in three key areas to more meaningfully understand and resist systemic racism across the continent. First, we need more work centering racially minoritized individuals, exploring processes of identity formation in the context of racialized Othering. Second, we need greater research on anti-Blackness, which may function differently and have distinct consequences from xenophobia or other forms of discrimination. Third, a critical interrogation of whiteness is needed, examining how diverse individuals alternately reinforce or resist exclusionary norms across contexts. To guide authors interested in taking up such work, we offer reflections and recommendations on terminology, methodology, theory, and researcher reflexivity.
: Background: Microaggressions are associated with negative health-related outcomes, and they can affect the quality of health care. There is limited evidence regarding the prevalence of microaggressions and their impact within psychotherapies, especially outside of the United States. Research Question: This work examines the occurrence of racial microaggressions within German psychotherapies, their relation to client-rated working alliance and treatment outcome, and the moderating role of subsequently addressing them. Method: Racially minoritized individuals (N = 209) who were currently in therapy or terminated within the last year reported their experiences in an online survey. Results: Most participants reported microaggressions from their therapists. Microaggressions were negatively linked to therapeutic working alliance and perceived improvement. These effects diminished when therapists effectively addressed previous microaggressions. Conclusions and Implications: Therapists may inadvertently perpetuate racism but are both responsible and capable of intervening once a microaggression has occurred. At an institutional level, this requires antidiscriminatory training and supervision.
: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed existing inequalities in European societies, deepening the divide between advantaged and disadvantaged groups due to the disproportionate impact of both the pandemic and pandemic measures. For instance, Roma people were portrayed as sanitary threats, drawing on normatively accepted prejudiced beliefs. This paper focuses on institutional racism reflected in the full-scale militarized quarantine of Roma settlements in Slovakia in the spring of 2020. We examined how Slovak public authorities discursively constructed the Roma during the pandemic, legitimizing full control through quarantine. Using discourse analysis of data from the Slovak Press Agency (N = 60 texts), we identified four interpretative repertoires used by politicians to justify their decisions for settlements' lockdown: (1) control and surveillance, (2) human rights, (3) epidemiology, and (4) military operations. The findings highlight the entrenched nature of structural inequalities and the need for equitable policymaking to address systemic injustices exposed during the pandemic.
: We developed new measures of ethnic-racial socialization for parents of migrant and nonmigrant descent in Germany, useful for much-needed studies on this topic. Our pre-registered study included 1,052 parents (50.5% migrant descent, 60% mothers) of school-aged children. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, initial results for separate scales showed that the item-loadings and factor structure for the two groups differed. Dimensions specific to migrant descent parents were negotiating Germany's racist past and inequities, promotion of heritage culture, and preparation for bias. Dimensions specific to nonmigrant parents were questioning German (national) identity and German-regional socialization. Subsequent analyses identified six common dimensions that included socialization regarding egalitarianism/pluralism, color-evasion, religion, antiracism, critical consciousness, and promotion of mistrust. The six dimensions demonstrated measurement invariance across migration status, gender, region, and educational status. We conclude that the scales demonstrate good psychometric properties and are appropriate for use in Germany and potentially other European countries.
: This systematic realist review explores the implementation and effectiveness of school-based working memory training (WMT) interventions aimed at enhancing academic performance, particularly in mathematics and English. Grounded in the Integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (I-PARIHS) framework, the review integrates quantitative synthesis of study-specific effect sizes with qualitative realist synthesis to examine facilitative strategies and contextual factors influencing WMT in diverse educational settings. Quantitative synthesis of 27 studies revealed a modest overall effect (Cohen's d = 0.24), with WMT showing a stronger impact on mathematics (Cohen's d = 0.25) than English language outcomes (Cohen's d = 0.06). Qualitative synthesis, informed by framework analysis, identified key factors - teacher involvement, classroom environment, adaptive training design - shaping the feasibility and impact of WMT. Despite the potential of WMT, challenges such as resource availability, technological issues, and variable teacher engagement contribute to inconsistent outcomes. Variability in standardized measures and fidelity reporting hinders comparisons. This review underscores the need for standardized reporting and contextual alignment to enhance the adaptability of WMT. Future research should prioritize fidelity monitoring, classroom dynamics, and long-term impact across broader academic areas.
: Emotional intelligence (EI) training is increasingly relevant for students as a vulnerable group prone to stress, anxiety, and depression. The diversity of models upon which the trainings are based, the content of the featured units, and the broad spectrum of existing measures call for systematization and providing a landscape of existing training. We conducted a research synthesis in databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, Educational Source, and APA PsychArticles and included 49 (quasi-) experimental studies in the systematic review and 39 in the meta-analysis. The findings indicate the need for more theoretically grounded EI training programs for university students, the scarcity of ability-based measures, and the need for better alignment between models, content, and measures. Future research could move in the direction of setting quality benchmarks for EI training and investigating which kinds of models and content are more appropriate for specific population groups.
: Research evidence syntheses offer rigorous methodology for integrated overviews of scientific knowledge on specific topics. Yet high-quality meta-analyses and systematic reviews often take years to complete. Rapid reviews are an evidence synthesis, gaining popularity in medical contexts, with adaptable methodology emphasizing stakeholder involvement and time sensitivity. By accelerating some processes, rapid reviews are particularly useful for emerging research topics or technologies, offering stakeholders relevant, up-to-date information. Given these benefits, this method is likely to expand into education. Methodologists recommend adhering to high transparency standards, since evidence on the effects of streamlining processes is still limited; but guidelines are already emerging in the medical context. While some standards may be applicable for educational research, the variability and context sensitivity inherent in education also need consideration. Accordingly, this Research Spotlight presents the development of a rapid review planning template for educational researchers, that emphasizes possibilities for stakeholder involvement and flexibility for transparent methodological processes.
