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Association for Psychological Science


Want to limit aggression? Practice self-control!

A new review article examines the psychological research on self-control and aggression, finding that depleting self-control can increase aggressive behavior, while strengthening it can reduce it. Practicing self-control through techniques like using the non-dominant hand or improving posture can also improve impulse control.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateMar 8, 2012

2 heads are not always better than 1

A study by Julia Minson and Jennifer S. Mueller found that collaboration can exacerbate the rejection of outside information, leading to reduced judgment accuracy. Despite initial marginally higher accuracy, pairs' estimates quickly matched those of individuals after revision, highlighting the importance of considering outside input.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateMar 6, 2012

When my eyes serve my stomach

A study by Rémi Radel found that hungry participants saw food-related words as brighter and were better at identifying them, indicating an early change in visual perception. This suggests the brain can adjust its processing to prioritize information related to needs or desires.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateMar 2, 2012

The ever-expanding definition of 'diversity'

A new study published in Psychological Science found that people's social dominance orientation influences how they perceive diversity. Those with high social dominance orientation tend to define diversity as having a mix of different occupations and racial groups, while those with low social dominance orientation focus on occupational...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateFeb 29, 2012

Broken hearts really hurt

Recent studies have found that physical and social pain are processed in the same brain regions, with shared emotional components. This overlap is validated by research, suggesting that people who experience social rejection may be more empathetic towards those with physical pain.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateFeb 22, 2012

Babies know what's fair

Infants exhibit longer looking times when one giraffe gets both toys or the slacker gets a reward in both experiments, indicating an expectation of fairness. The study suggests that children are born with innate expectations about fairness, shaped by culture and environment.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateFeb 17, 2012

Fragmented sleep, fragmented mind: A new theory of sleep disruption and dissociation

A new theory suggests that sleep problems may contribute to dissociation and dissociative disorders. Research finds that sleep disturbances can impair memory and increase suggestibility, potentially increasing the impact of leading interventions. Therapists should adopt a more nuanced approach to treat patients with dissociative symptoms.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateFeb 14, 2012

The pupils are the windows to the mind

A new study published in Perspectives on Psychological Science explores the use of pupilometry, a technique measuring pupil diameter, to gain insights into human behavior. By analyzing changes in pupil size, researchers can identify what people are paying attention to, shedding light on brain function and cognitive processes.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPerspectives on Psychological Science·DateJan 27, 2012

Mind over matter: Patients' perceptions of illness make a difference

Research suggests that patients' perceptions of their illness significantly impact health outcomes, including functioning, healthcare utilization, and mortality. Effective health care treatment plans require consideration of a patient's beliefs about their illness, as they guide decisions about health and treatment adherence.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateJan 27, 2012