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American Psychological Association


Learning about struggles of famous scientists may help students succeed in science

A new study published by the American Psychological Association found that learning about the personal and intellectual struggles of famous scientists can improve high school students' science grades. Students who read about the scientists' failures had significantly improved their grades, with low-achievers benefiting the most.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Educational Psychology·DateFeb 11, 2016

Is suicide a tragic variant of an evolutionarily adaptive set of behaviors?

Research suggests that suicidal behavior may be a misguided expression of self-sacrificial tendencies, which are otherwise beneficial in eusocial species. The study identifies parallels between self-sacrifice in non-human species and human suicide, highlighting the importance of addressing underlying misconceptions about one's own value.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalPsychological Review·DateJan 14, 2016

Self-esteem gender gap more pronounced in western nations

Research by American Psychological Association found that self-esteem tends to increase with age, but the gender gap is more significant in Western industrialized countries. The study analyzed data from over 985,000 men and women ages 16-45 from 48 countries, revealing that specific cultural influences shape self-esteem development in ...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateJan 4, 2016

Can a bonobo keep the beat?

A female bonobo named Kuni was found to have a spontaneous drumming tempo of 270 beats per minute, faster than observed in human children. She synchronized her drumming with the human drummer on 54% of trials, with greater success near her preferred tempo.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Comparative Psychology·DateNov 24, 2015

Parents aiming too high can harm child's academic performance

A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that high parental aspirations for children's academic achievement can lead to decreased performance when those expectations are unrealistic. The research highlights the importance of giving parents realistic expectations to improve their children's educational success.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateNov 17, 2015

Compulsive texting associated with poorer school performance among adolescent girls, study finds

A study published by the American Psychological Association found that teenage girls who compulsively text do worse academically compared to their male counterparts. The research suggests that compulsive texting is more problematic than mere frequency of texting, as it involves trying to cut back and feeling frustrated.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalPsychology of Popular Media Culture·DateOct 5, 2015

Falling off the wagon with Facebook

Research presented at the American Psychological Association's convention found that participants who attended more face-to-face meetings had greater success in achieving and maintaining sobriety. Online support groups on Facebook did not show similar results, with participants reporting a higher likelihood of dishonesty online.

Teen marijuana use not linked to later depression, lung cancer, other health problems, study finds

A study of 408 teenage males found that chronic marijuana use was not linked to later physical or mental health issues such as depression, psychotic symptoms or asthma. The researchers controlled for other factors that could have influenced the findings, including cigarette smoking and access to health insurance.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalPsychology of Addictive Behaviors·DateAug 4, 2015

Cyberbullying less emotionally harmful to kids than traditional in-person harassment, study finds

A recent study published by the American Psychological Association found that cyberbullying was less emotionally harmful to kids than traditional in-person harassment. The study analyzed data from telephone interviews with 791 American youth ages 10-20, who reported an average of 311 harassment incidents in the prior year.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalPsychology of Violence·DateJun 3, 2015

A grateful heart is a healthier heart

Research published by the American Psychological Association found that gratitude was associated with better mood, sleep, and reduced inflammation in patients with asymptomatic heart failure. Writing down things for which they were thankful daily also showed reductions in inflammatory biomarkers and improved heart rate variability.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalSpirituality in Clinical Practice·DateApr 9, 2015

Research debunks commonly held belief about narcissism

A study published by the American Psychological Association found no association between excessive use of first-person singular pronouns and narcissistic tendencies. The research used a large sample size of over 4,800 participants and multiple narcissism measures, suggesting that I-talk may not be a reliable indicator of narcissism.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateApr 6, 2015

Liberal countries have more satisfied citizens while conservatives are happier individuals

A study by the American Psychological Association found that people living in more liberal countries are generally happier, with liberals reporting lower well-being. Conservatives, on the other hand, are happier than their liberal counterparts, regardless of where they live or the government's political leanings. The researchers analyz...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateSep 9, 2014