This October and November, I’d like to bring forward some Behind the Paper stories that remind us how deeply human experiences shape the world we study — the unwritten rules guiding societies, to the quiet struggles behind mental health, the ongoing fight for safety and equality, and the unexpected ways art meets science. Together, these blog posts invite us to look a little closer at how people navigate complexity, find resilience, and create meaning in the spaces between data and lived reality. 

Human Behavior and Societies 

Unwritten rules across 90 societies

@Kimmo Eriksson @Pontus Strimling  @Biljana Gjoneska

This Behind the Paper post, based on a study published in Communications Psychology, offers a fascinating glimpse into a massive cross-cultural study showing that despite our differences, people around the world share surprising agreement on what counts as ‘appropriate’. Even more intriguingly: just three intuitive moral concerns explain most of these judgments. A compelling read for anyone curious about how similar we really are.  

Read the full blog to find out what these three intuitive moral concerns are.  

If you’d like to find more related content, explore and follow the Cross-Cultural Psychology Topic Page!  

Mental Health and Wellbeing 

This October’s World Mental Health Day reminds us that mental wellbeing is influenced not only by the care people receive, but also by the challenges they face, such as conflict, insecurity, or political tension.

Across our Communities, researchers shared stories that reveal how these pressures affect everyday life, and how people find support in unexpected places. 

How do young people rebuild emotional safety when violence shapes their everyday world? 

@Sarah-Jane Hannah Fenton @Paul Jackson @Monica Pinilla-Roncancio @Juan Pablo Aranguren-Romero @Sanne Weber @Francy Carranza-Franco 

In this Behind the Paper post, researchers reflect on participatory fieldwork with Afro-Colombian youth in conflict-affected Quibdó, revealing how support from family, friends, arts, culture and nature often stands in for missing formal mental health services. 

Published in Conflict and Health, the study offers a look at resilience, disconnection, and the urgent need for safe community spaces. Read the full blog.  

What happens to mental health when political resistance becomes a daily battle? 

@Konstantine Chakhunashvili 

This Behind the Paper story based on a study published in BMC Psychology reveals strikingly high anxiety and depression levels among activists in Georgia during a tense 2024 pre-election period. It uncovers the hidden emotional costs of activism, inviting readers to look beyond the headlines and into the psychological weight of resistance. Read the full blog.  

If you’d like to find more related content, explore and follow the Mental Health Topic Page and SDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing Topic Page! 

Gender and Human Rights 

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25th) marks the launch of the UNiTE campaign  — an initiative of 16 Days of Activism concluding on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day (December 10th).

The stories below highlight how researchers, practitioners, and communities are reimagining responses to violence and challenging the structures that enable it.

Re-imagining responses to gender-based violence 

@Olumide Adisa 

In this Behind the Book post, researcher Olumide Adisa shares the personal story behind the creation of her book — a project shaped by late-night writing, supportive friends who stepped in to babysit, and a community of survivors, scholars, and advocates who helped her believe systemic change is possible. She reflects on the hope that guided the work, the challenges of turning complex systems theory into real-world solutions, and the unexpected emotions of watching the book find its readers. It’s an intimate look at how courage, collaboration, and persistence can spark new approaches to ending violence.  A warm, thoughtful read worth diving into. 

When nutrition and household power shape a mother’s health

@Shagufta Naseer 

In this Behind the Paper post, which is based on a study published in ISRCTN: The UK’s Clinical Study Registry, researchers explore how anemia, food insecurity, domestic violence, and limited autonomy endanger maternal and newborn health in Pakistan. Their upcoming trial compares multiple micronutrient supplements to see whether better nutrition and greater empowerment can shift outcomes. It’s a compelling look at how biology and social inequality collide, and why tackling both is essential for healthier generations. Read the full blog to dive deeper into this layered challenge. 

If you’d like to find more related content, explore and follow the SDG 5: Gender Equality Topic Page! 

Art and Science 

A fresh look at arts and health

@Agustin Ibanez @Carlos Coronel 

This Behind the Paper piece challenges two long-standing misconceptions in arts and health – that creativity is an unmeasurable mystery and that it offers no biological impact. Drawing on a Nature Communications study, it shows that activities like dance, music, visual arts, and strategy gaming can measurably delay brain aging. The findings bridge art and neuroscience, revealing creativity as a meaningful, evidence-based contributor to brain health. Read the full blog to learn more.  

Van Gogh’s scientific eye 

@ILARIA PERISSI 

This Behind the Paper blog post reveals the lesser-known, experimental side of Van Gogh: an artist who thought like a scientist. Using his box of yarns to test colors and model ideas, he built understanding through hands-on experiments. By tracing letters, archives, and patterns in his creative cycles, the post shows how his art emerged from a complex blend of emotion, materials, and methods turning perception into knowledge. Read the full blog post here to find out what you didn’t know about Van Gogh.  

If you’d like to find more related content, explore and follow the Creativity and Arts Education Topic Page! 

Across these stories runs an idea: understanding real people’s choices, challenges, creativity, and strength is key to building a more humane world. Whether through psychology, mental health, gender research, or the arts, each study shows how research grows when we look at lived experiences.  

I hope these reflections inspire you to explore more and follow the conversations shaping our shared future. Please don’t forget to like and leave comments for the posts you enjoy reading and follow topics you’re interested in! 

Further readings:  

Highlights from the Humanities and Social Sciences Communities   

Highlights from the Medicine and Life Sciences Communities  

Highlights from the Mathematics, Physical & Applied Sciences Communities