Articles tagged with Behavioral Psychology
Researchers found a strong correlation between retirement savings and health improvement behaviors, with 401(k) contributors improving their health by 27% more than non-contributors. The study controlled for initial health, demographics, and job type to find that financial planning predicts future health changes.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara researchers demonstrates that a particular neuron creates a 'personal space' in the retina, similar to human behavior. The study identifies a genetic contributor to this feature, pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (Pttg1), and shows that it is heritable.
The Institute of Medicine report reveals that millions of dollars spent on PTSD treatment effectiveness are unmeasured, with neither department having a coordinated system to track outcomes. Mental health is crucial for successful re-entry after military service, but treatments' efficacy remains unknown.
A study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that individuals with low dispositional attitudes (haters) spend more time on each activity than those with high dispositional attitudes (likers), despite doing fewer activities. This suggests that haters may be more focused and skilled in their chosen tasks.
A study by USC researchers found that webpage position significantly impacts collective judgments about content, leading to biased recommendations. Ordering content by recency of recommendation reduces these biases, allowing for more accurate assessments of user interest.
Two papers provide a unified definition of lifelong and acquired premature ejaculation, reducing errors in diagnosis and classification. The definition aims to improve treatment options for affected men and their partners.
A new study found that when consumers focus on internal feelings of power, they are less likely to purchase luxury items like BMWs. However, when focused on expected behavior, people in powerful roles are more likely to buy status-signaling products.
A new theoretical review published in American Psychologist suggests that favoritism, rather than hostility, is the primary cause of discrimination in the US. The researchers found that most discrimination occurs as a result of ordinary, unintentional acts that benefit those similar to the person doing the favor.
Researchers found that top-rated health and fitness apps typically use fewer than four behavior-change techniques, with most focusing on instruction, feedback, and goal-setting. The study highlights the need for developers to incorporate more effective techniques in their apps.
A study by San Francisco State University found that creative pursuits outside of work boost problem-solving and helping skills on the job. Employers can encourage employees to engage in more creative activities, either through personal time or bringing them into the workplace.
Research by the American Psychological Association found that people are more likely to register as organ donors if they have positive attitudes specifically about registering, rather than just supporting the idea of organ donation. Attitudes measured in surveys were key predictors of behavior.
A recent study found a strong correlation between states' core political characteristics and collective personality traits. States with lower conscientiousness or higher agreeableness tend to have a positive view of government, while those with higher openness to experience are more likely to be ideologically liberal.
Researchers used EEG to track emergence of rule structures in frontal cortex and predict behavior. Participants tended to infer cues of context and rules, with individual variation in structure-forming activity correlating with application in subsequent tasks.
Physicists observed quantum chaos in ultracold atoms using a controlled environment to study complex systems. The team confirmed the universality of random matrix theory through statistical analysis and computer simulations, revealing new insights into ultracold gases and chemistry.
A recent study explores the mental state of returning veterans, finding that many struggle with identity conflict and feel 'alien' among family and friends. The research highlights the need for broader dialogue around veteran experiences beyond diagnosable illnesses like PTSD.
Research from INSEAD and The Wharton School found that mindfulness meditation can counteract the sunk-cost bias, a behavior where people hold on to losing stocks or bad relationships. By cultivating awareness of the present moment, mindfulness meditation reduces negative emotions and facilitates rational decision-making.
Researchers Jingjing Ma and Neal J. Roese found that individuals with a 'must have the best' mindset experience more regret and are less satisfied with purchases, leading to negative effects on psychological well-being.
A UW study of 1,228 female twins found that caregiving's relationship with depression, anxiety, and perceived mental health is influenced by genetics and upbringing. Anxiety is the most closely linked to caregiving, while environmental factors have a greater impact on perceived stress.
Research by Eyal Pe'er and colleagues found that people who partially confessed their wrongdoing experienced more negative emotions like fear, shame, and guilt compared to those who fully confessed or made no confession. Partially confessing also led to increased feelings of regret.
Researchers at the University of Missouri found that professional athletes in NBA and MLB experience a decline in performance after signing new contracts, dubbed 'contract year syndrome'. This decline is attributed to a post-contract slump that can last two years.
Duke researchers found that neurons in the superior colliculus use two different strategies when responding to visual and auditory stimuli, contradicting previous theories. This discovery opens up a mystery regarding the underlying mechanism of how vision captures sound.
A new study suggests that finding pleasure in necessary activities is key to boosting self-control. By reframing tasks as 'want-to's' and planning for motivation shifts, individuals can improve their ability to override thoughts and emotions.
Researchers found that athletes' initial body language after winning, known as a 'dominance threat display,' is innate and stems from an evolutionary need to establish order. This behavior is stronger in cultures that emphasize hierarchy.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that people who use the risk of losing their monthly healthy food discount as a motivational tool are more likely to make healthier choices at the grocery store. By precommitting to increase their healthy food purchases, participants increased their healthy food intake by an average ...
A new study suggests that people's mental representation of Republican candidate Mitt Romney's face differs based on their political persuasion. Researchers found that when presented with subtle changes to Romney's face, participants who supported him rated the images as more trustworthy and competent.
Research finds that thinking about time reduces cheating behavior by encouraging self-reflection, whereas priming people to think about money makes them more likely to cheat. This study suggests that boosting self-reflection might be an effective way to curb dishonesty.
A new study finds that consumers donate less when focused on distant future but more when abstract thinking is used. Brands can leverage this by emphasizing the fun experience of a product, rather than its unpleasant side effects.
A UC Berkeley study found that shoppers spend more money when engaged in a 'pay-it-forward' chain of goodwill than when they can name their own price. The results shed light on the psychological and social forces guiding consumer decisions beyond getting the best deal.
Exposure to a single pro-smoking media message increases smoking intentions by an average of 22% and remains elevated for 7 days. Researchers found that repeated exposures to pro-smoking messages can lead to a cumulative effect on attitudes and behaviors towards smoking.
UC Riverside researchers found that recipients prefer to hear bad news first, while news-givers prefer good news. However, the timing of good news can impact behavior change, with a good-bad-good delivery strategy potentially undermining its effectiveness. The study suggests a good-then-bad news order may be more beneficial for recipie...
Researchers discovered that self-control decreases over the course of a day, leading to increased dishonesty in the afternoon. Participants were more likely to cheat or engage in unethical behavior when tested later in the day.
A study published in Behaviour Research and Therapy found that Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was more effective than progressive muscle relaxation therapy (PMR) in reducing heavy drinking among anxious alcoholics. The addition of medication to either CBT or PMR did not decrease alcohol consumption.
A new study by the American Psychological Association finds that people who cheat without causing harm experience an emotional boost, contrary to expectations. The research involved over 1,000 participants and revealed that cheating can lead to feelings of satisfaction, even when the payoff is small.
Researchers found that physical changes to products during and after consumption can reduce recycling rates. Consumers are more likely to throw away items with distorted forms than intact ones.
A longitudinal study of over 1,300 youths found that early school engagement is crucial in avoiding problem behaviors and eventual dropout. The study highlights the importance of creating a supportive learning environment that fosters emotional well-being and competence.
A recent study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland found that early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease can significantly reduce psychological and behavioral symptoms. Persons with a very mild Alzheimer's disease diagnosed at an early stage are better able to manage their daily activities than those diagnosed at a...
During stressful periods, people tend to default to unhealthy snacks due to ingrained habits rather than cravings. The study's findings have significant implications for the development of new food products, highlighting the importance of disrupting existing consumer habits.
A Baylor University study found that warring couples desire a willingness to relinquish power and share control during conflicts. The top desired behaviors from partners include showing investment, stopping adversarial behavior, and communicating more.
A study by San Francisco State University found that older married couples tend to increase their avoidance of conflict discussions over time. This shift may be driven by age-related changes in socioemotional goals, where individuals prioritize less conflict and more positive experiences.
Research suggests that individuals with low self-control are more willing to sacrifice time and energy for their romantic partners or best friends. This phenomenon is observed even when self-control is not explicitly taxed, indicating a possible link between impulsivity and pro-social behavior in close relationships.
A new study finds that individuals in expansive physical environments are more likely to exhibit dishonest behavior, such as stealing and cheating. The research suggests that subtle postural shifts can influence thoughts and feelings, leading to a state of power that elicits dishonest actions.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that nearly 300,000 stroke/TIA survivors develop PTSD symptoms each year, with one in nine experiencing chronic symptoms. The study suggests that PTSD is an under-recognized problem among stroke patients, and that social support is a key protective factor against PTSD.
A new study shows that spending time on one's own Facebook profile can increase self-esteem. However, this boost in self-esteem ultimately diminishes motivation to perform well in tasks. The study used the Implicit Association Test and found significant effects of Facebook profile viewing on psychological effects.
Researchers found that individuals tend to default to positive habits, such as eating a healthy breakfast or going to the gym, even when stressed. This suggests that the underlying routine is more important than self-control in meeting goals.
A new study by Ed O'Brien found that people tend to 'explain away' the presence of bad possibilities, thinking they won't occur, but struggle more with recalling positive experiences. This finding has implications for how we think about happiness and well-being.
A study of returning veterans with major limb injuries found that while pain improved significantly within the first year, mental health problems such as depression and PTSD persisted. The research highlighted the need for ongoing biobehavioral pain and psychological care to help severely injured veterans cope with their pain and trauma.
A recent study suggests that people with low self-control prefer and depend on individuals with high self-control, which can aid in overcoming temptation. The findings also indicate that these individuals may be more likely to form adaptive relationships by surrounding themselves with others who possess strong self-control.
A recent study by Northeastern University found that meditation increases compassionate behavior, boosting responses to help others in need. The study, funded by the Mind and Life Institute, showed that meditation can alter the calculus of the moral mind, leading to more virtuous behavior.
Researchers discovered that individuals with large choice sets overestimate probabilities of rare events and take riskier gambles. Participants gathered more information with smaller choice sets, but repeated this pattern with larger sets.
A new study suggests that mindfulness can help overcome barriers to self-knowledge, including blind spots in thinking, feeling, and behaving. By increasing bodily awareness, mindfulness may reduce emotional reactivity and improve our ability to see ourselves more accurately.
Researchers at BUSM found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can relieve pain for people with painful diabetic neuropathies. CBT, a psychological treatment approach, was compared to treatment as usual in a study of veterans with type II diabetes.
Researchers found that male Eurasian Jays can share food with their female partner according to her current desire, suggesting a 'state-attribution' ability. This behavior is crucial for species living in long-term relationships and may improve mate bonding.
A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that priming participants with a belief in moral realism led to increased charitable donations, suggesting that considering objective moral facts can motivate people to behave better.
A study by Miriam Hospital researchers found that individuals with more willpower lost more weight, were more physically active, and consumed fewer calories from fat. Practicing acts of self-control, such as eating a low-fat diet and working out, can strengthen the 'muscle' of self-control.
A new survey of stroke survivors found that those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are less likely to adhere to treatment regimens that reduce the risk of a future stroke. Approximately one in three patients with PTSD had concerns about their medications, leading to increased ambivalence and nonadherence.
Studies by University of Missouri psychologists found that individuals with 'urgency' personality tend to drive after drinking due to impulsivity. Reducing travel wait times for taxis and public transit could provide a safe alternative, helping to lower DWI rates.
A Northwestern University study found that black football players are more likely to be penalized for celebrations compared to their white counterparts. Participants rated arrogance levels equally regardless of race but suggested lower compensation for black celebrants. This 'hubris penalty' highlights racial bias in NFL rewards.
Teachers can utilize specific behaviors to increase students' emotional and cognitive interest, leading to greater engagement. Research found that immediacy behaviors stimulate emotional arousal, while clarity behaviors enhance structural understanding of course content.
A study by researchers found that when nurse leaders' actions mirror their spoken words regarding safety, unit nurses are more likely to report errors, leading to a stronger commitment to safe practices. This, in turn, results in a reduction in patient treatment errors.
Researchers found that faster decision-makers tend to contribute more to a common good, suggesting intuition plays a key role in cooperation. People's moral intuitions also clash when values conflict, highlighting the need for reflection to reconcile differences.