RESEARCH

Current Projects

Our current research examines how the social mind shapes human behavior, focusing on positive social behaviors and positive socioemotional experiences that sustain a healthy society. We study cooperation, morality, and prosociality, as well as how situational and individual factors interact to guide social behavior and human functioning.

Core questions

Our research is guided by a set of core questions about the social mind and human behavior.

  1. How does the human brain perform social computation and generate predictions about the social world?

  2. How do situational and psychological factors interact to shape social behavior?

  3. What are the neural and psychological mechanisms underlying individual differences and development in social behavior?

  4. How are socioemotional experiences linked to daily well-being and human functioning?

  5. How can we diagnose and improve social functioning in individuals, communities, and societies?

Research Projects

Prosocial Behavior and Well-being

Does helping others benefit the helper as well as the recipient? We investigate how prosocial behavior benefits both those who help and those who receive help, and how it contributes to physical health, psychological well-being, and social functioning. Our research investigates the psychological, neural, and immunological mechanisms underlying these effects. We work with both ordinary individuals and extraordinary altruists, including blood donors, organ donors, and self-sacrificial helpers.

Social Development and Networks

How do social environments and the developing social mind shape each other? We examine how social environments influence socioemotional experiences and brain development during adolescence, and how individuals actively shape their social environments through their behavior and social positioning. By mapping complete peer networks within school cohorts, we investigate how social context and individual differences interact to drive development.

Social Cognition, Bias, and Conflict

How do individuals and social environments interact to influence social biases and conflict? We investigate how cognitive biases and socioemotional processes give rise to social behavior, including moral judgment, norm learning, and group-based interactions. We examine how biases shape social environments such as group structure and polarization, and how these environments in turn reinforce or transform individual cognition and behavior.

Individual Differences in the Social Mind

Why do individuals differ in how they perceive, interpret, and respond to social and emotional experiences? We study individual differences in social perception, empathy, and mentalizing, as well as variation in everyday emotional experience and decision-making. Using psychological measures, neuroimaging, and ecological momentary assessment, we examine how these differences relate to adaptation and well-being in everyday life.

Publications

2026

  • Lee, S., Lee, S., Jeong, I., ..., Sul, S., & Jung, D. (2026). Exploring early-stage orienting behavior using an eye tracker for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder classification. Scientific Reports, 16, 8671. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41419-0

  • Kim, M. J., & Sul, S. How helping others helps us: neural mechanisms linking prosocial behavior to psychological and physical well-being. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 20, 1686801. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1686801

  • Jung, W., Seon, H., Sul, S., & Chung, D. (2026). Social norms modulate asymmetric effects of group opinions on cue-induced smoking craving, Addictive Behaviors, 108623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2026.108623

2025

  • Lee, T., Kwon, Y., Bang, J., & Sul, S. (2025). The Interaction Effect of Empathy and Subjective Status on the Relationship between Social Preferences and Life Satisfaction, Journal of Social Science, 36(3), 167-188. https://doi.org/10.16881/jss.2025.07.36.3.167‍ ‍

  • Wang, X., Kim, J. Y., Kim, J. H., …, Sul, S., ... & Song, H. J. (2025). Brain structure correlates of foreign language learning experiences. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 19, 1663218. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1663218

  • Shin, W., Ahn, J., Choe, K., …, & Sul, S. (2025). Happier individuals generate more spontaneous thoughts about friends and value relationships over money. Communications Psychology, 3, 162. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-025-00341-3

2024

  • Vlasceanu, M., Doell, K. C., Bak-Coleman, J. B., ..., Sul, S., ... & Van Bavel, J. J. (2024). Addressing climate change with behavioral science: A global intervention tournament in 63 countries. Science Advances, 10(6), eadj5778.https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adj5778

  • Doell, K. C., Todorova, B., Vlasceanu, M., ..., Sul, S., ... & Lutz, A. E. (2024). The International Climate Psychology Collaboration: Climate change-related data collected from 63 countries. Scientific Data, 11(1), 1066. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03865-1

  • Park, J., Lee, S., Gu, X., Sul, S., & Chung, D. (2024). Motivational and behavioral mechanisms underlying generalized health risking behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in smokers. Scientific Reports, 14, 30292. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81898-7

  • Shin, W., Jyung, M., Choi, J. A., Choi, I., & Sul, S. (2024). Striatal-hippocampal functional connectivity contributes to real-life positive anticipatory experiences and subjective well-being. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, nsae096. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsae096

2023

  • Chey, J., Cho, I., …, Sul, S., & Youm, Y. (2023). Preventing dementia with connection, reserve and brain health. In J Chey Ed., Society within Brain, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

  • Cho, I., & Sul, S. (2023). Origins of individual differences in social behavior and social brain. In J Chey E., Society within Brain, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

  • Sul, S., & Cho, I. (2023). Social brain and how it links social intelligence and well-being. In J Chey Ed., Society within Brain, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

  • Shin W., Jyung, M, Choi, I., & Sul S. (2023). Perceived financial well-being and its association with frontostriatal functional connectivity, real-life anticipatory experiences, and everyday happiness. Scientific Reports, 13, 18739.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44001-0

  • Kim, M*., Shin, S*., Jyung, M., Choi, J-A., Choi, I., Kim, MJ., & Sul S. (2023). Corticolimbic structural connectivity encapsulates real-world emotional reactivity and happiness. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 18(1), 1-10. *Equal author contribution. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsad056

  • Kim, M. J., & Sul, S.(2023). On the relationship between the social brain, social connectedness, and well-being. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1112438

  • Shin, W., Park, H., Kim S-P., & Sul, S. (2023). Individual differences in gaze-cuing effect are associated with facial emotion recognition and social conformity. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1219488. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1219488

  • Bang, J., Park, J., Kwon, O-S., Kim, HJ., Chung, D., & Sul, S. (2023). The effect of political orientation, utilitarianism, and use of new media on attitudes toward COVID-19 policy, Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 37(3), 259-286. https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2023.37.3.005

2022

  • Shin, W., Jung, M., Choi, I., & Sul, S. (2022). Effects of emotional reactions to daily events on happiness. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 36(2), 133-144. https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2022.36.2.003

  • Han, E. J., Na, J., Bang, J.,& Sul, S. (2022). Explicit and Implicit Attitudes Towards Mask Wearing in the Midst of COVID-19. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 36(1), 47-67. https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2022.36.1.003‍ ‍

2021

  • Bang, J.,Choi, J., Choi, I., & Sul, S. (2021). Pleasure and meaning of charitable donation:

    the effect of social value orientation and giving on hedonic vs. eudaimonic happiness. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 35(4), 49-75. https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2021.35.4.003‍ ‍

  • Kim, E. Y., Sul, S., … & Kim, H. (2021). Effects of Oxytocin on Social Comparisons in Intergroup Situations. Brain Sciences, 11(9), 1227. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091227

  • Sung, S-H., Kim, S., … , Sul, S., … & Kim, S-P. (2021). A Study on Facial Expression Change Detection Using Machine Learning Methods with Feature Selection Technique. Mathematics, 9(17), 2062. https://doi.org/10.3390/math9172062

  • Sul, S., & Kim, M. J. (2021). Human dorsomedial prefrontal cortex delineates the self and other against the tendency to form interdependent social representations. Neuron, 109(14), 2209-2211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.029

  • Park, J., Lee, S., Sul, S., & Chung, D. (2021). Depression symptoms mediate mismatch between perceived severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and preventive motives. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 650042. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.650042

  • Everett, J. A., Colombatto, C., ..., Sul, S., ...&Crockett, M. J. (2021). Moral dilemmas and trust in leaders during a global health crisis. Nature Human Behaviour, 5(8), 1074-1088. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01156-y

2020

  • Cho, I., Song, H. J., Kim, H., & Sul, S. (2020). Older adults consider others’ intentions less but allocentric outcomes more than young adults during an ultimatum game. Psychology and Aging, 35(7), 974-980.  https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000577

  • Sul, S.,Choi, J., & Choi, I. (2020). Belief in the distribution of happiness and subjective well-being. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 34(4), 37-61. https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2020.34.4.003

2019

  • Lee, S., & Sul, S. (2019).Ingroup-outgroup difference in moral judgment: The effect of group membership of he transgressor and the location of transgression. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 33(1), 19-52.https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2019.33.1.002‍ ‍

2018

  • Lee, M., Sul, S., & Kim, H. (2018). Social observation increases deontological judgments in moral dilemmas. Evolution and Human Behavior, 39(6), 611-621.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2018.06.004

  • Jung, D., Sul, S., Lee, M. & Kim, H.(2018). Social Observation Increases Functional Segregation between MPFC Subregions Predicting Prosocial Consumer Decisions. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-21449-z

  • Sul, S., & Lee, S. (2018). A critical review and implications of the moral-conventional distinction in moral judgment. Korean Journal of Cognitive Science, 29(2), 137-160. http://dx.doi.org/10.19066/cogsci.2018.29.2.004

  • Kim, H., & Sul, S. (2018). Uniqueness and Major Issues of Neuroethics. Korean Journal of Cognitive Science, 29(1), 61-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.19066/cogsci.2018.29.1.004

2017

  • Sul, S., Güroğlu, B., Crone, E. A. & Chang, L. J. (2017). Medial prefrontal cortical thinning mediates shifts in other-regarding preferences during adolescence. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 1-10 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-08692-6

  • Cheong, J. H., Jolly, E., Sul, S., & Chang, L. J. (2017). Computational models in social neuroscience. Computational Models of Brain and Behavior, 229-244.

2016

  • Sul, S., Kim, J., & Choi, I. (2016). Subjective well-being, social buffering and hedonic editing in the quotidian. Cognition and Emotion, 30(6), 1063-1080. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2015.1048669

  • Hein, G., Morishima, Y., Leiberg, S., Sul, S., & Fehr, E. (2016). The brain’s functional network architecture reveals human motives. Science, 351(6277), 1074-1078. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac7992

2015

  • Sul, S., Tobler, P. N., Hein, G., Leiberg, S., Jung, D., Fehr, E., & Kim, H. (2015). Spatial gradient in value representation along the medial prefrontal cortex reflects individual differences in prosociality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(25), 7851-7856. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1423895112

  • Ranehill, E., Dreber, A., Johannesson, M., Leiberg, S., Sul, S., & Weber, R. A. (2015). Assessing the robustness of power posing: No effect on hormones and risk tolerance in a large sample of men and women. Psychological Science, 26(5), 653-656. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614553946

2014

  • Kim, E., Sul, S., Yoo, H., Kim, H., & Song, H. (2014). The relationship between mothers` altruism in the reinforcement Learning task and their children`s empathy. The Korean Journal of Woman Psychology, 19(2), 117-136. https://doi.org/10.18205/kpa.2014.19.2.002

  • Sul, S., Lee, M., & Kim, H. (2014).Measuring Individual Differences in Altruism with Altruistic Learning Task. Korean Journal of Psychology: General, 33(2), 467-489. UCI: G704-001037.2014.33.2.009

  • Lee, M., Sul, S., & Kim, H. (2014). The Impact of Moral Decision Style on Impression Formatio, Korean Journal of Psychology: Social and Personality. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 28(2), 201-226. https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2014.28.2.011

2013

  • Kang, P., Lee, J., Sul, S., & Kim, H. (2013). Dorsomedial prefrontal cortex activity predicts the accuracy in estimating others' preferences. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7, 686. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00686

  • Jung, D., Sul, S., & Kim, H. (2013). Dissociable neural processes underlying risky decisions for self versus other. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 7, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2013.00015

  • Na, J., Choi, I., & Sul, S. (2013). I like you because you think in the “right” way: Culture and ideal thinking. Social Cognition, 31(3), 390-404. https://doi.org/10.1521/soco.2013.31.3.390

  • Park, B. K., Choi, J. A., Koo, M., Sul, S., & Choi, I. (2013). Culture, self, and preference structure: Transitivity and context independence are violated more by interdependent people. Social Cognition, 31(1), 106-118. https://doi.org/10.1521/soco.2013.31.1.106

  • Sul, S., Kim, J., & Choi, I. (2013). Subjective well-being and hedonic editing: How happy people maximize joint outcomes of loss and gain. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(4), 1409-1430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9379-6

  • Kim, M., Sul, S., & Mun, Y. (2013). The Impact of Perceiving Angry and Fearful Facial Expressions on Decision Making Performance in Threat Situations. The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology, 25(4), 445-461. https://doi.org/10.22172/cogbio.2013.25.4.004

2012 & before

  • Sul, S., Choi, I., & Kang, P. (2012). Cultural modulation of self-referential brain activity for personality traits and social identities. Social Neuroscience, 7(3), 280-291. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2011.614001

  • Kang, P., Sul, S., & Choi, I. (2011). Gender Differences in Thin-Slice Judgement during the Opposite-Sex Impression Formation. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 25(3), 61-76. https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2011.25.3.005

  • Sul, S., & Choi, I. (2009). Analytic Versus Holistic Thinking and Perceptions of Causal Impact. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 23(3), 19-38. https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2009.23.3.002

  • Sul, S., & Lee, C. (2008). Neuroethics: Ethical, philosophical, Legal, and social implications of neuroscience and its applications. Korean Journal of Psychology: General, 27(1), 1-41. UCI: G704-001037.2008.27.1.009