BPS Research Digest

1. What Makes A Good Robot Teacher?
   By Emma Young. Children trust robots that are accurate — but only when they also seem to have psychological agency.
2. Psychology Research In The Coronavirus Era: A “High Stakes Version Of Groundhog Day”?
   By Matthew Warren. Many psychologists worry that the pandemic is causing researchers to fall back on bad habits the field has spent a decade trying to overcome.
3. Santa Is More Real Than Peter Pan: Children Have A “Hierarchy” Of Belief In Fictional Characters
   By Emily Reynolds. Cultural rituals surrounding figures like Santa and the Tooth Fairy may make them seem more real than other fictional characters.
4. Horror Movies And Loot Boxes: The Week’s Best Psychology Links
   Our weekly round-up of the best psychology coverage from elsewhere on the web
5. Self-Compassion Can Protect You From Feeling Like A Burden When You Mess Things Up For Your Group
   By Itamar Shatz. Participants high in self-compassion experienced fewer negative feelings after performing poorly in a group.