Articles tagged with Behavioral Psychology
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University have identified the posterior cingulate cortex as a key brain region that motivates behavior change. By stimulating this area, people can become more exploratory and creative, suggesting its role in foraging efficiency and landscape adaptation.
A team of psychologists and political scientists found that people who perceive themselves as part of a disadvantaged group are more likely to support populist ideologies. Long-lasting feelings of group disadvantage were also associated with an unrealistic belief in the greatness of their nation.
Researcher Robert Reinhart found that synchronizing specific brain oscillations enhances executive function by improving communication between two key brain areas. Participants showed improved learning and decision-making skills, and effects could be quickly reversed.
A new study found that college students who dislike their classes are equally likely to cheat, regardless of whether instructors emphasize mastering content or good grades. The factor that best predicts cheating is a personality trait: high need for sensation.
A new study found that combining recommendations for health behaviors in a homogeneous way, such as increasing exercise and eating more vegetables, is more effective than mixing positive and negative instructions. This approach can lead to better behavioral outcomes and reduced confusion among individuals trying to change their habits.
A new study by University of Nottingham researchers found that a positive mood on the day of flu vaccination can significantly increase its protective effect. The study, which measured factors such as mood, physical activity and diet, showed that good mood was associated with higher levels of antibody after vaccination.
A new clinical trial aims to explore the effectiveness of modafinil, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a combination of both in reducing MS fatigue. The study will provide valuable insights to help patients and clinicians make informed decisions about treatment options.
Research from Medica Research Institute found that psychological distress significantly affects retirement savings, with up to a 62% lower probability of holding accounts. Married couples with psychological distress withdraw more from their accounts, while singles divert funds away from retirement savings.
Researchers found that presenting a large amount of information is suitable for recalling interchangeable behaviors, but relatively few recommendations are best for remembering key, complete sets of recommendations.
A study published in Psychological Science found that Supreme Court rulings can alter public perceptions of social norms around issues like gay marriage. Researchers observed a significant jump in participants' belief that Americans support same-sex marriage after the 2015 ruling, which persisted weeks later.
A longitudinal study of over 500,000 UK participants found that higher neuroticism reduces the risk of death for those in fair or poor health. A specific aspect of neuroticism related to worry and vulnerability was associated with lower mortality, regardless of self-reported health.
Research by American Psychological Association finds that people who think they're less active than peers have a greater chance of dying younger. The study controlled for actual activity levels and found a significant correlation between perceived physical activity and mortality.
Researchers review three cases of delayed-onset PTSD in patients with dementia, highlighting the importance of recognizing early life trauma. Clinicians can differentiate between PTSD and BPSD by considering a patient's unique narrative and history of previous trauma.
The study reveals that participants in a corridor setup exhibited lower crowd density than in a semicircle setup. Psychological aspects, including social norms and fairness, are believed to play a role in shaping the behavior of crowds. The findings suggest that purely physical models are insufficient for understanding crowd dynamics.
Researchers explored the impact of money primes on self-sufficient thinking and behavior across three experiments involving diverse participant groups. The results show weak and inconsistent effects of money primes on various measures of self-sufficiency.
Research published in Psychological Science shows that people are highly sensitive to the acceleration of scores, not just their actual value. This finding suggests that meaningless accelerating scores can be an effective motivator, as long as they increase at a fast rate.
A recent study by the ENIGMA Project found that many chefs engage in risky behaviors such as serving undercooked meat, returning to work after illness, and failing to wash hands. The researchers used a dice-rolling technique to gather data, which revealed surprising findings about food safety practices in UK kitchens.
Research finds that hot temperatures lead to reduced prosocial behavior, including volunteering and listening actively. Participants in uncomfortable environments were 50% less likely to engage in helpful behaviors.
Researchers at Binghamton University found that individuals who go to bed late have lower perceived control over obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Participants in a one-week sleep study completed daily ratings of their ability to control their symptoms, with those who went to bed later showing significant decrements in control.
Researchers found that even when facial expressions are objectively identical, familiar faces are judged more positively. The study suggests that prior experience with a face can influence how happy it appears, highlighting the dynamic nature of emotion perception processes.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy significantly reduced self-reported depression and anxiety among chronic pain patients participating in a pain rehabilitation program. The treatment also improved self-efficacy, activity engagement, and pain acceptance.
A study published by the American Psychological Association found that organizations may want to select applicants with mid-range levels of charisma into leadership roles. Moderately charismatic leaders were rated most effective because they exhibited both strategic and operational behaviors.
A new study found that U.S.-born Latino male middle school students who were aware of the Arizona immigration bill had difficulty exhibiting proper classroom behavior, such as following instructions and staying quiet. The study also discovered that awareness of the law predicted lower levels of academic self-regulation among male stude...
A University of Illinois study reveals that college students perceive a stronger risk than benefit from online behavioral advertising, driving them to avoid ads. The research suggests the industry should educate consumers and make tracking processes more transparent to maintain trust.
Research shows that lower socioeconomic status is associated with higher BMI due to psychological distress and emotional eating. The study found that resilience did not moderate the effect, suggesting a need for alternative coping strategies to reduce obesity in low-income populations.
A study found that participants reported changes in all five major personality factors when intoxicated, but observers noted only reliable differences in extraversion. The discrepancy may be due to inherent differences in point of view, with participants experiencing internal changes that were imperceptible to observers.
A study by INSEAD found that labeling energy drinks as part of an alcohol cocktail increases perceived intoxication, leading to greater risk-taking, sexual confidence, and decreased intentions to drive. The effects were stronger for those who believed energy drinks boost the effect of liquor.
Research suggests that helping coworkers in the morning can cause mental fatigue, leading to reduced helpfulness later in the day and increased self-serving behavior. The study found that employees' mental states switch from other-oriented to selfish in the afternoon, harming not only themselves but also their colleagues.
A study found that labeling cocktails with energy drinks increases perceived intoxication, risk-taking, and sexual self-confidence. Adding energy drinks to alcohol reduces the intention to drive under the influence.
A new study found that 53% of NHS patients who recovered from depression and anxiety experienced relapses within a year after treatment. Patients with residual depression symptoms were twice as likely to relapse, highlighting the need for long-term monitoring and support.
Providers who prescribe PrEP believe their role is to support informed sexual health decisions, and the protective benefit of PrEP outweighs any potential increase in risky behavior. More than 1.2 million Americans are eligible for PrEP, but less than 100,000 have been prescribed it.
A study of neuroscience papers from 2006-2015 reveals the most productive journals and contributing countries. Psychology and behavioral sciences have become popular research areas, while China's involvement has increased significantly, jumping from 11th to 2nd place in 2015.
Researchers at Penn found that vivid visualization of the future does not increase delayed gratification as previously thought. Instead, they discovered that better visualizers tend to be more impulsive when making choices about smaller rewards.
New research reveals that limiting sugary drinks through portion limits can backfire when businesses offer smaller cup sizes with free refills, leading to increased overall consumption. In contrast, bundling large drinks in smaller portions appears to decrease interest in purchasing the larger option.
A new study found that playing a highly visual-spatial computer game like Tetris can help prevent intrusive memories after a traumatic event. The intervention, which took just 20 minutes, reduced symptoms of acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder by 62% in patients waiting for emergency care.
A study found that sleep-tracking devices can be misleading, leading to increased anxiety and poor sleep habits. While these devices may have benefits when used correctly, they can also hinder efforts by therapists to assist patients with sleep disorders.
Researchers found that a telephone-based weight loss program combined with a maintenance intervention slowed the rate of weight regain in obese outpatients. The study suggests that incorporating weight maintenance interventions into clinical programs could make them more effective over the long term.
A new study using behavioral data from social media found that people are more like their friends and partners than previously thought. Using Facebook data, researchers trained statistical models to infer personality traits from likes and status updates, revealing a substantial similarity in personality between couples and friends.
Patients with depression are more successful than healthy individuals in abandoning unattainable goals. By giving up on unrealistic objectives, depression can actually facilitate personal development. Researchers found that individuals with depression spent less time on unsolvable anagrams, indicating a greater ability to disengage.
Research shows people prefer those who openly admit bad behavior over hypocrites who condemn it, as the former provides genuine moral insight. Participants viewed hypocritical characters more positively when they condemned bad behavior without direct information about their moral behavior.
A new smartphone app called Cigbreak Free has been developed to help smokers quit by incorporating behavioral change techniques into a game-like interface. The app uses 37 evidence-based methods to encourage users to progress through levels and gain rewards, making it easier for them to stick to their New Year's resolutions.
A study by Vanderbilt University found that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is most effective in improving daily functioning for IBS patients. Cognitive behavioral therapies were found to be the most effective type of psychotherapy in reducing symptoms and increasing ability to participate in activities.
A study of 62 studies with over 13,000 individuals found that narcissism correlates with a range of social media behaviors, including the number of friends and selfies posted. Grandiose narcissism positively relates to time spent on social media, while vulnerable narcissism does not show a relationship.
Researchers found that two new psychological treatments, alongside CBT, could reduce recurrence of depression in adolescents. The therapies showed sustained effects up to a year after treatment ended, with 50% reduction in symptoms.
A study published in BMJ Open found that Tai Chi significantly improved the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans, including managing intrusive thoughts and physiological arousal. The program was well-received by participants, with nearly 94% reporting favorable impressions.
The study found that benzodiazepine and related drug use increased the risk of hip fracture by 43% in persons with Alzheimer's disease. Long-term hospital stays after hip fractures were also more common among those who used these drugs.
Researchers found that engaging in daily creative activities led to increased feelings of enthusiasm and higher 'flourishing' states. The study supports the idea that everyday creativity can cultivate positive psychological functioning.
Research at Ohio State University found that powerful individuals become more indecisive when torn between two equally good or bad choices, taking longer to make a decision. This effect is particularly pronounced for those who feel powerful and ambivalent about an issue.
Research by the University of Plymouth found that adolescents are more likely to take online risks, despite being framed as either potential winners or losers. The study suggests that this is due to their limited ability to draw upon qualitative 'gist' representations, rather than quantitive calculations.
Research found that internal networking behaviors promote job satisfaction and reduced turnover, while external networking increases the likelihood of leaving a company. Employers can increase opportunities for internal networking to retain talent, balancing work-life interaction.
Research shows that mothers respond strongly to moral faults in their infants, using high-intensity interventions like physical restraint and commands. In contrast, pragmatic and prudential transgressions are met with lower-intensity responses. Infants are more likely to comply with moral commands and less likely to protest verbally.
Adolescents' brains show enhanced connectivity between hippocampus and striatum, enabling better reinforcement learning and memory formation. This unique feature may be key to their ability to form powerful memories during adolescence.
A study by NIST researchers found that security fatigue leads users to adopt risky computing behavior, causing costs to businesses. The study defines security fatigue as weariness or reluctance to deal with computer security.
Research by University of Basel found that older people do not necessarily take fewer risks than younger people, but rather their risk-taking behavior depends on the type and complexity of tasks. The study used both self-report and behavioral measures to investigate age-related changes in risk-taking propensity.
Researchers have identified two key symptoms that make it harder for depressed smokers to quit: low positive affect and cognitive impairment. A new treatment approach, combining Chantix with behavioral activation therapy, is being tested to target these challenges.
A recent study by University of Notre Dame researchers shows that businesses must balance quality service with ethical behavior to achieve success. The study found that excellent service alone is not enough for financial outcomes, highlighting the importance of low unethical behavior in customer satisfaction and financial returns.
New research investigates how personality characteristics influence friendship patterns and attitudes towards vaccines. Studies also reveal the impact of spontaneous trait inferences on social media.
Two-part series of studies examines health behaviors and management challenges in spinal cord injury patients, highlighting strategies for overcoming obstacles and improving quality of life. Recent research findings emphasize the importance of proactive health management and resilience after a spinal cord injury.
A University of Virginia study found that married individuals tend to drink less frequently and in fewer drinks than single or divorced people. In contrast, singles are more likely to drink more often and in larger quantities. The researchers suggest that intimate relationships may provide a protective effect against excessive drinking.
Research presented at the American Psychological Association's annual convention found that focusing on one's future can help individuals make better financial decisions. The study, which surveyed over 700 adults in the US, discovered that those who spent more time contemplating events yet to come scored significantly lower in impulsiv...