Researchers investigated whether older adults' lower IQ scores are due to aging or sensory deficits. The study found that even subtle perception deficits, such as reduced spatial contrast sensitivity, can significantly impact performance on intelligence tests.
Automatic influences over us are typically benign and help keep us in touch with our present circumstances while our conscious mind is time-traveling into the past or future. The article highlights the importance of acknowledging these unconscious influences to regain control.
A new study challenges the long-held assumption that older children are generally smarter than their younger siblings. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 3,000 families and found no link between birth order and intelligence when controlling for environmental factors.
Researchers found that anger evokes casual judgments more frequently than sadness, leading to a desire for actions against offenders. In contrast, sadness may prompt actions targeting victims, such as healing and support.
The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research has awarded projects to investigate integration of immigrants into their new home country. Researchers are also exploring the brain's processing with magnetic stimulation and creating virtual environments for socio-psychological research.
A study found that women are more likely to be inspired by female role models than male ones, suggesting they may provide a valuable example for women trying to determine their potential. The research also suggests that female participants were more likely to choose women as role models and consider the gender's impact on their choice.
A study analyzing media coverage of Olympics found that Japanese and American views on winning differ significantly. In Japan, winning is attributed to a combination of athlete's attributes, background, and social experience. This difference reflects cultural products such as television, which influence how people perceive the world.
Researchers found that participants who were primed with thoughts of death were more likely to vote for John Kerry, while those who thought about their own mortality were more likely to support George W. Bush. The study suggests that mortality salience can influence political preference and worldview defense mechanisms.
Researchers investigated how parents influence adolescents' coping mechanisms for stress. Secure parent-child relationships are associated with the development of adaptive coping styles, which can lead to long-term positive outcomes. In contrast, insecure relationships may result in maladaptive coping strategies that increase distress.
A recent study found a connection between childhood sexual abuse and eating disorders in college-age women, emphasizing the role of psychological distress and alexithymia. The research suggests that addressing these underlying emotional factors can help prevent the development of eating disorders.
A 30,000-person study found that divorce affects happiness levels irreversibly for some people. Dr. Lucas' research indicates that some individuals may struggle with adapting to life events, highlighting the need for intervention.
Research finds that bystanders are more responsive in dangerous emergencies, even with a second observer present. The classical bystander effect was replicated only in low-danger situations, but not in high-danger scenarios.
A study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly found that businesswomen wearing tight skirts were perceived as less competent than their neutrally dressed counterparts. The research suggests women in high status occupations must resist the temptation to emphasize their sex appeal to gain respect from colleagues.
A study published in Political Psychology analyzed sales data from eight Marvel comic books and found that unconventional heroes sold more copies during low-threat times compared to high-threat times. The conventional hero titles, on the other hand, remained flat in sales.
A study by the University of Chicago found that identical twins shared similar characteristics of loneliness at a rate of 50%, while fraternal twins shared at 25%. The research suggests that genetics may play a significant role in the development of loneliness, which can have severe consequences on mental and physical health.
The SAGE Center will foster interdisciplinary research on the human mind, integrating social sciences, arts, humanities, and natural sciences. Michael Gazzaniga aims to build a powerful new center focused on understanding the unique nature of the human mind.
Rutgers-Newark psychology researchers found that individuals with selective and complete haptic deafferentiation, a rare neurological disorder, struggle to simulate others' actions due to lack of body perception. They successfully estimated weight but failed to recognize deception.
A recent study published in Psychological Science found no indication of a bisexual pattern of genital arousal among heterosexual and homosexual men, but did reveal a distinct bisexual pattern of subjective arousal. This challenges the existing understanding of male bisexuality and highlights the need for further research.
Researchers found that humans have a difficult time shaking off fears of people from another race, similar to fears of snakes and spiders. Interracial dating experience was the only factor to influence the persistence of fear learning bias, suggesting positive inter-group contact can reduce negativity towards outgroups.
A recent study by George Y. Bizer found that individuals who report 'opposition' to a candidate show less attitude change than those who state 'support'. The study suggests that opposition can strengthen one's opinion, making it more difficult to change.
A recent study published in Psychological Science found that high-poverty schools often struggle with inadequate educational resources, leading to a significant disadvantage for poor children. In these schools, up to 40% of students fail the writing test and are taught by non-highly qualified personnel.
A new study found that incorporating humor into an existing online course enhances student engagement and enjoyment. Students in the humor-enhanced section were more likely to participate in discussion boards and showed improved overall satisfaction with the course.
Researchers found that undergraduate students react quickly to words with positive or negative connotations, indicating automatic memory links. These links can guide future behavior and decision-making in politics.
A new study by Arizona State University researchers found that prejudices exist towards different groups of people, with distinct flavors characterized by fear, disgust, anger, and more. The study suggests that interventions to reduce inappropriate prejudices against different groups may need to be tailored accordingly.
A recent study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly found that yoga can help women buffer against negative messages about body image and self-acceptance. The research suggests that practicing yoga may lead to improved mental health outcomes, particularly for individuals at high risk of developing eating disorders.
Researchers found that viewing past events from a third-person perspective can accentuate changes made, increasing motivation to pursue personal goals. This shift in perspective also influences behavior, with individuals who recall awkward social situations from a third-person view exhibiting improved social skills.
Research found that obese shoppers face subtle interpersonal discrimination in stores, with professionally dressed obese shoppers experiencing less discrimination than average-weight shoppers. The study suggests that by removing justifications for prejudice, manifestations of interpersonal discrimination can be curbed.
George Slavich's research finds that severe life events affect depressed individuals' heart rates, blood pressure, and finger temperature. The study sheds light on a potential pathway through which life stress can cause depression.
A UCLA study found that 47% of sixth graders reported being bullied on at least one day, with verbal harassment being the most common type. The study also showed that witnessing bullying can shield students from feeling humiliated or angry, and that frequent bullying can lead to psychological problems and decreased academic performance.
A study by University of Illinois researchers found that mothers' positive approach during homework-help sessions promotes persistence in children. Children who experienced positive interactions with their mothers were more motivated in school and valued the learning process.
Researchers found that training designed to eliminate racial biases in police interactions can be effective in reducing biased reactions. The study used a simulation to test the impact of different approaches on officer behavior, and the results suggest that such training could lead to improved outcomes for all parties involved.
A study of 93 Michigan State University undergraduates found that those who perform well under high-pressure conditions tend to do poorly in standardized tests. The researchers argue that this suggests that high-stakes tests may not be effective predictors of future academic success.
Researchers found that positive emotions, such as joy and happiness, enhance recognition of members from other races, reducing bias. This 'broadening effect' helps individuals see a bigger picture, promoting inclusivity and noticing more details.
Researchers found that dreams up to a week after a memorable emotional event often reflect problem resolution and positive emotions. This suggests that dreams can serve as a treatment for working through personal difficulties.
A study found that having an imaginary companion is common among school-age children, with 31% playing with one at age 7. The companions varied widely in form and function, including invisible humans and animals. Imaginary play appears to be an ongoing process that helps children develop social understanding and emotional regulation.
Research suggests that depression significantly impacts life satisfaction, while anxiety has a minimal effect. A disposition to be cheerful is more important for happiness than external factors like success or popularity.
Researchers at McGill University have developed three computer games that can help people feel more positive about themselves and build their self-esteem. The games, Wham!, EyeSpy: The Matrix, and Grow Your Chi, work by training players to focus on positive feedback and develop automatic thought patterns that boost confidence.
Research suggests that dieters experience improved self-image after viewing photos of thin models in popular magazines. However, the study also indicates that those who are highly invested in achieving this ideal may be more likely to develop eating disorders.
A study found that 45 first-year psychology students reported elaborate false memories of a fictional event after being told three stories about their grade-school experiences. The presence of a real class photo doubled the rate of false memories compared to studies without photographs.
Researchers developed a mathematical model that extracts key elements from hundreds of videotaped conversations between couples to predict marital trouble. The model identifies a magic ratio of positive to negative interactions, below which marriages can be in trouble.
Carnegie Mellon University has received a grant to develop and implement effective science instruction methods for middle school students at four urban Pittsburgh schools. The project aims to address the significant achievement gap faced by low-income African American children, who historically underperform on science tests.
A study published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that creative individuals have low levels of latent inhibition, a process that filters out irrelevant information. This allows them to remain open to new possibilities, potentially leading to original thinking and creative accomplishment.
A study by Ohio State University found that students taking a psychology-based study skills program had higher grade point averages and were more likely to return for their next year of college. The course used well-founded psychological principles to teach students how to put motivation and learning techniques into practice.
Researchers found that active involvement in forming an idea, known as generative learning, reduces false memory. Participants were more likely to accurately remember words from a list they created themselves than those presented by others.
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that black college students were more likely to be 'shot' by police officers in a virtual reality simulation, even when holding harmless objects. The researchers used the Implicit Association Test to measure unconscious racial biases and stress levels.
A recent study by Arizona State University researchers contradicts the assumption that a child's best interest is served when the custodial parent moves. The study found that students whose parents had moved experienced higher negative impacts on general health, financial support, and emotional well-being.
Researchers found that alcohol increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior in individuals who tend to express their anger outwardly, such as through verbal or physical aggression. This association is significant and highlights the importance of understanding emotions and regulation in relation to drinking and aggressive behavior.
Researchers are studying how our brains perceive and process facial features to understand face recognition. They believe that well-formed and well-known objects like faces are perceived in parallel processing, while difficult patterns may be processed serially.
The Association for Computing Machinery has awarded Carroll the CHI Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to human-computer interaction. His research focused on scenario-based design, usability specification, and participatory design, which have had significant impacts on software development and user experience.
Researchers found that quitting smoking has psychological benefits and encourages continued efforts at smoking cessation. However, unsuccessful quitters' declining perceptions of health risk must be changed to help them quit in the future.
At 2-6 months old, infants learn to connect visible bits and pieces of the world to form mental representations. By 4 months, they can accurately perceive occlusions in object trajectories, laying the foundation for lifelong visual perception.
A new study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin finds that children who exhibit narcissistic tendencies are more aggressive after experiencing social rejection. The researchers suggest that reducing instances of social rejection and promoting positive self-images could help prevent violence in schools.
A recent study found that women have less tolerance for self-handicapping by men or women, making more negative evaluations of the behavior. Women are also less willing to excuse self-handicapping even when alternative explanations are viable, suspecting laziness and lack of motivation.
A study conducted by Todd D. Kashdan and Paul Rose found that highly curious individuals experience more positive interpersonal outcomes than less curious individuals in different social contexts. The research also tested a new theory about how curiosity influences the growth of personal and interpersonal resources.
Williams College researcher Dr. Fein has received a $240,455 NSF grant to investigate the links between social context, physiological arousal, and cognitive appraisals in relation to student underperformance. The research team will include experts from education, neuroscience, health, cognitive psychology, and social psychology.
Researchers found that participants who wrote emails about traumatic emotional experiences were healthier in the weeks following their writings than those who wrote about non-emotional topics. The study's results suggest that written emotional expression is beneficial to physical health, even when conducted through email.
A recent Tufts University study explores the role of skin tone in perceptions of Black Americans, revealing that both blacks and whites associate positive traits with light-skinned individuals and negative traits with dark-skinned individuals. The research sheds new light on a lingering aspect of racial inequality.
A study at Vanderbilt University found that an adult male with synesthesia consistently matched colors to words and numbers, even when the letters or numbers were presented separately. The researchers also found that his synesthetic colors acted like real colors in certain tests.
Researchers found that people unconsciously transfer traits from speakers to other humans and even inanimate objects. Using psychology students as volunteers, the study confirmed that spontaneous trait transference is an automatic brain process.
A new UNC research project aims to investigate the connection between osteoarthritis, emotional responses, and coping strategies. The two-year study will analyze data from over 20,000 participants to identify predictors and consequences of emotional distress in people with arthritis.