Key papers in Social Psychology
Pofolia’s corpus holds 73 papers from the Social Psychology subfield (2012–2026). The list below starts with the most cited.
Most cited
Ranked by citation count. Because citations accumulate over time, this list naturally leans towards work published a few years ago; for where the field is now, see “recently added”.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Encyclopedia of Social Work · 2013 · 109,987 citations
The DSM-5, the latest edition of the American Psychiatric Association's manual, updates diagnostic criteria for mental disorders, building on significant changes introduced in its predecessor, DSM-III.
Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences
2013 · FWCI 178.46 · 24,204 citations
This book serves as a nontechnical guide to statistical power analysis, equipping researchers with practical tools for more effective research planning and analysis.
Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness
Guilford Press eBooks · 2017 · FWCI 628.15 · 11,914 citations
This book provides a comprehensive overview of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), detailing its core principles, mini-theories, and applications across various life domains.
Best practices in exploratory factor analysis: four recommendations for getting the most from your analysis
2020 · FWCI 608.31 · 10,258 citations
This paper consolidates practical guidance for researchers on making optimal decisions within the complex, multi-step process of exploratory factor analysis (EFA). It focuses on four key areas: extraction methods, rotation techniques, determining the number of factors, and sample size considerations.
Global, regional, and national burden of 12 mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
The Lancet Psychiatry · 2022 · Q1 · SJR 8.00 · FWCI 971.57 · 5,738 citations · Open access
The global burden of 12 mental disorders significantly increased from 1990 to 2019, with DALYs rising from 80.8 million to 125.3 million, yet age-standardized rates remained stable, indicating a growing population affected.
Culture's Consequences
Macat Library eBooks · 2018 · FWCI 231.76 · 5,501 citations
Geert Hofstede developed a framework to interpret and measure cultural differences between countries, originally identifying five dimensions based on a survey of IBM employees.
Engineering Psychology and Human Performance
Psychology Press eBooks · 2015 · FWCI 165.46 · 5,002 citations
This textbook offers a comprehensive examination of human-machine interaction from a psychological perspective, focusing on human information processing.
The WHO-5 Well-Being Index: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics · 2015 · Q1 · SJR 3.00 · FWCI 24.26 · 4,710 citations · Open access
A systematic review of 213 articles confirms the WHO-5 Well-Being Index demonstrates high clinimetric validity and is a sensitive and specific screening tool for depression.
What is Emotional Intelligence?
2015 · 4,506 citations
This paper reconstructs and updates an early online resource on emotional intelligence, originally from the UNH webpage.
The righteous mind: why good people are divided by politics and religion
Choice Reviews Online · 2012 · 4,423 citations
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt proposes that human minds are inherently moralistic, judgmental, and self-righteous, which explains why people often perceive others as living in a different moral universe and struggle to agree on concepts like fairness and freedom.
An Overview of the Schwartz Theory of Basic Values
Online Readings in Psychology and Culture · 2012 · FWCI 55.77 · 4,005 citations · Open access
The Schwartz theory identifies ten universal basic personal values, organized in a circular structure reflecting their motivational conflicts and compatibilities, which has been validated across 82 countries.
Bullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth.
Psychological Bulletin · 2014 · Q1 · SJR 8.00 · FWCI 29.88 · 3,164 citations
A meta-analysis reveals that among youth, normative beliefs about aggression and moral disengagement strongly predict cyberbullying perpetration, while stress and suicidal ideation are most associated with victimization.
Burden of Depressive Disorders by Country, Sex, Age, and Year: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010
PLoS Medicine · 2013 · Q1 · SJR 3.00 · FWCI 225.09 · 3,157 citations · Open access
Depressive disorders were the second leading cause of years lived with disability (YLDs) globally in 2010, accounting for 8.2% of YLDs, and contributed significantly to disability from suicide and ischemic heart disease.
Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender-Nonconforming People, Version 7
International Journal of Transgenderism · 2012 · FWCI 126.46 · 3,145 citations
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) has released Version 7 of its Standards of Care (SOC), offering updated clinical guidance for health professionals. This version emphasizes individualized treatment pathways for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals seeking comfort with their gendered selves.
What is the impact of mental health-related stigma on help-seeking? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies
Psychological Medicine · 2014 · Q1 · SJR 2.00 · FWCI 26.48 · 3,135 citations · Open access
Mental health stigma is associated with reduced help-seeking, with a median effect size of d = -0.27, and is a significant barrier, particularly due to concerns about disclosure.
Self-Determination Theory in Work Organizations: The State of a Science
Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior · 2017 · Q1 · SJR 16.00 · FWCI 113.48 · 2,958 citations
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) offers a framework for understanding motivation in the workplace by distinguishing between autonomous and controlled motivation, and positing that satisfying needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness boosts performance and well-being.
The global prevalence of common mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis 1980–2013
International Journal of Epidemiology · 2014 · Q1 · SJR 2.00 · FWCI 16.97 · 2,929 citations · Open access
Globally, approximately 1 in 5 people (17.6%) experienced a common mental disorder in the preceding 12 months, and nearly 3 in 10 (29.2%) experienced one in their lifetime, based on a meta-analysis of 174 surveys across 63 countries.
Psychological Well-Being Revisited: Advances in the Science and Practice of Eudaimonia
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics · 2013 · Q1 · SJR 3.00 · FWCI 71.42 · 2,898 citations · Open access
This review synthesizes over two decades of research on psychological well-being, highlighting its expansion into areas like purposeful engagement, talent realization, and self-knowledge.
Exercise, physical activity, and self-determination theory: A systematic review
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · 2012 · Q1 · SJR 2.00 · FWCI 18.97 · 2,886 citations · Open access
Autonomous motivation, particularly identified regulation for initial adoption and intrinsic motivation for long-term adherence, consistently predicts exercise and physical activity.
Stigma as a Fundamental Cause of Population Health Inequalities
American Journal of Public Health · 2013 · Q1 · SJR 1.00 · FWCI 102.08 · 2,659 citations
This paper argues that stigma, often studied in isolation, is a fundamental cause of population health inequalities, impacting multiple life domains and acting through psychological and structural pathways.
Recently added
Continuous dynamics of cooperation and competition in social decision-making
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience · 2026 · Q1 · SJR 1.00 · Open access
A new Cooperation-Competition Foraging (CCF) Game paradigm captures social decision-making in continuous time and space, moving beyond discrete, turn-based tasks to a more ecologically valid, embodied, and interactive approach.
Research on the Influence of Partner Sample Characteristics on the Judgment of Attachment Styles in Intimate Relationships
OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) · 2026
Attachment style assessments in intimate relationships are significantly influenced by the characteristics of the 'partner' sample used in the test, suggesting attachment is context-dependent rather than a stable individual trait.
Love at the Intersections: Socialization and Support from Queer Caregivers of Color
University of Chicago · 2026
Queer caregivers of color (QCC) conceptualize family as biological and chosen, emphasizing authenticity and mutual support in socializing youth ('youth of the village,' YoV) by fostering queerness, cultural heritage, and emotional safety, informed by their own experiences with marginalization.
Love at the Intersections: Socialization and Support from Queer Caregivers of Color
Open MIND · 2026
Queer caregivers of color (QCC) conceptualize family as biological and chosen, emphasizing authenticity and mutual support to socialize youth ('youth of the village' - YoV) by fostering queer-affirming spaces, cultural connections, and emotional safety, informed by their own experiences with marginalization.
The social psychology of minorities
2026 · 379 citations
This paper examines the subjective psychological aspects of minority-majority group relations, focusing on how stereotypes and belief systems interact with objective social conditions.
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