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matan rubin

Comparing the value of perceived humanversus AI-generated empathy

16 July, 2025

new paper published in Nature Human Behaviour by Matan Rubin, Prof. Anat Perry, and colleagues, explores whether empathic responses are perceived differently when attributed to a human versus artificial intelligence.

Across nine studies with over 6,000 participants, the researchers found that identically generated empathic messages were rated as more empathic, supportive, and authentic when thought to come from a human.

oded leshem

Congratulation to Dr. Oded Adomi Leshem

2 July, 2025

Who won ISPP’s 2025 David O. Sears Best Book Award for his book "Hope Amidst Conflict: Philosophical and Psychological Explorations," Published by Oxford University Press.

Leshem is a senior researcher at the PICR lab and the founder of the new International Hub for Hope Research.

David O. Sears Best Book on Mass Politics Award

Amir Tal

Welcome Dr. Amir Tal

24 June, 2025

The Department of Psychology is excited to welcome Dr. Amir Tal, a new faculty member joining the department in collaboration with the Department of Cognitive Science and the Brain. Amir will join us in the upcoming academic year (2025–2026) and will lead the Computational Psychology cluster.

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Peripheral Information’s Effect on Emotional Intensity Depends on Depression Level

11 June, 2025
Tamar Amishav

A new study published in Emotion by PhD candidate Tamar Amishav and Dr. Nilly Mor explores how negative information in the periphery, outside the main focus of attention, shapes emotional responses, particularly in individuals with depressive symptoms.

The findings reveal that when neutral target stimuli are presented alongside peripheral negative images, individuals with higher depression symptoms respond more negatively, suggesting that neutral situations may feel negative not because of the situation itself, but because of the context. These results highlight the role of subtle contextual cues in shaping emotional experiences. These results are especially relevant in these times where we are inundated by negative peripheral information (stickers of soldiers, pictures of hostages and destruction), which is not always relevant to the situation we are experiencing.

See full article here