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American Psychological Association


Employers who equate 'female' with 'quitter' may be surprised by latest research findings

A study of 26,359 managers found that female managers' voluntary turnover rates were slightly lower than those of male managers. Recently promoted women were also less likely to resign than recently promoted men. Managers with graduate degrees who took family leaves were no more likely to resign than non-leave-taking managers.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateDec 23, 2001

Why do we 'choke' under pressure?

Golf putting study reveals that over-attending to well-learned skills can hinder performance, especially under pressure. The experiment shows that adapting to an environment where individuals focus on performance from the start of learning may provide immunity against 'choking'.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology·DateDec 16, 2001

New picture of intelligence highlights the overlooked role of visuospatial abilities

Visuospatial abilities and working memory are strongly correlated with executive function, a central cognitive command and control. This finding ties these skills to general intelligence, suggesting that traditional IQ tests may overlook important aspects of human cognition. The study aims to contribute to more fair and comprehensive t...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology·DateDec 16, 2001

Trimming the Christmas tree or lighting menorah candles together may strengthen your marriage

A new study finds that participating in religious holiday rituals can make couples more satisfied with their marriages. Researchers discovered that the meaning created in shared rituals has a stronger impact on marital satisfaction than just practicing these routines or the importance of religion in the family.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Family Psychology·DateDec 9, 2001

When is a repeated request for a date harassment? It depends on who you are asking

A new analysis of 62 studies found that men and women agree on the seriousness of sexual coercion and propositions, but disagree on less extreme behaviors like sex-stereotyped jokes and repeated date requests. The study suggests that gender differences in perceptions of harassment may be influenced by socialization and value systems.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateNov 4, 2001

Transracial adoptees psychological adjustment not as dependent upon their cultural identity as presumed, according to new study

A new study involving young adult transracial adoptees found that their exposure and competence in their birth culture are not necessary for good psychological adjustment. The study suggests that family and peer relationships, rather than cultural identity, may play a more significant role in shaping their mental health.

Environment may play a role in whether youth benefit from sports participation, according to two studies

Two studies suggest that environment plays a significant role in whether youth benefit from sports participation. In one study, urban youth showed positive influences on self-esteem and social competence, while rural African American girls found sports involvement may increase delinquent behaviors and substance use. The findings highli...

Two new studies look at role of personality and work demands in health and safety on the job

New research reveals that introverted firefighters are more likely to experience higher injury rates due to reluctance to call for assistance. The study also found that ignoring safety rules can lead to severe injuries and delayed recovery from work-related injuries, especially for married female firefighters. Additionally, chronic noi...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Occupational Health Psychology·DateJul 15, 2001

Personality influences the brain's responses to emotional situations more than thought, according to new research

A new study published in the Journal of Behavioral Neuroscience found that extraverts show greater brain reactivity to positive images compared to introverts. The researchers used fMRI to measure brain responses to negative and positive images, and found associations between personality traits and neural activity in response to emotion...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalBehavioral Neuroscience·DateFeb 4, 2001

Three new psychological studies show how positive and negative emotions affect us now and later

Three new studies show that expressing positive emotions can lead to better relationships, mental focus, and personal well-being. Additionally, research finds that a positive outlook on life persists into old age, with extraverted individuals less likely to experience a decline in positive affect.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateJan 20, 2001

Mother and teen conversations can prevent harmful college drinking behavior, say researchers

A new study found that simple mother and teen conversations about the consequences of drinking can help prevent binge-drinking in college freshmen. Students who had more positive beliefs about drinking were more likely to drink excessively and experience negative consequences associated with binge-drinking tendencies.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalPsychology of Addictive Behaviors·DateDec 16, 2000

People are poor at cross-race facial recognition because they concentrate on racial features rather than individual features, according to new study

A new study by Kent State University psychologist Daniel T. Levin found that people's brains tend to classify faces as belonging to a specific race, rather than recognizing individual features. This 'cross-race recognition deficit' affects people of all racial groups and can lead to inaccurate identifications.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology·DateDec 2, 2000

Perspective on life can affect women’s health, according to new studies

Research suggests that a woman's optimism during pregnancy can lead to healthier birth outcomes for her baby. Women with an optimistic outlook tend to exercise more frequently and have better nutrition, resulting in lower birth weight infants. Additionally, women who perceive themselves as higher on the social ladder report better phys...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalHealth Psychology·DateNov 18, 2000

Researchers find that parent's marital status can influence the self-esteem of African American adolescent boys

Research found that parent's marital status affects African American adolescent boys' self-esteem, with married parents having a positive impact. The study also revealed differences in how males and females respond to their family environments, highlighting the importance of public policy changes to support families.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Family Psychology·DateSep 16, 2000

Family stress, beliefs about parenting and cognitive and emotional reactions to children's misbehavior can lead to harsh discipline, says new study

A recent study found that low-income parents, particularly those from minority ethnic groups, are more likely to use harsh discipline due to increased stress and cognitive-emotional reactions. The research suggests that parenting beliefs, family stress, and ethnicity play a significant role in shaping discipline approaches.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Family Psychology·DateSep 16, 2000

Strategies people employ for regulating emotions affect memory for event, according to a new study

Researchers found that attempting to control reactions to emotional events weakens memory, but reappraisal strategies have no such impact. The study suggests that expressive suppression, which involves continually monitoring and correcting oneself, consumes cognitive resources and reduces accuracy of event details.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateSep 2, 2000

Children's personality features unchanged by short-term video play; long-term play likely to be governed by combined influences

Research shows that short-term exposure to violent video games has minimal impact on empathy and aggression in children. However, preexisting personality traits and long-term gaming habits are likely to shape behavior. The study found a significant correlation between the child's favorite game and their total aggression score.

Warm family environment protects aggressive children from school maladjustment and later adulthood unemployment

Research finds that child-centered parenting and prosocial behavior can break the cycle of destructive behavior in aggressive children, reducing school maladjustment and long-term unemployment. Aggressive children who learn prosocial behavior are more accepted by peers, developing social skills and improving job prospects.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalDevelopmental Psychology·DateJul 15, 2000

Americans are more willing to admit to having mental health problems now compared with 40 years ago, according to new study

A new study reveals that Americans are more likely to acknowledge feeling overwhelmed by life, with shifts in perceptions of mental health and coping mechanisms over the past four decades. The percentage of respondents reporting a 'nervous breakdown' increased from 19% in 1957 to 26% in 1996.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalAmerican Psychologist·DateJul 1, 2000