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Better a 'no' than no answer at all

Researchers investigated how social exclusion affects individuals and found that even small indications of integration and attention can reduce distress. Receiving minimal attention via a letter or email can make rejection more bearable.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateMay 11, 2017

Emotion: An important link to HIV prevention in black adolescents with mental illnesses

A new study published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies suggests that psychoeducation and skills building can help sever the emotion-behavior link contributing to HIV/STI risk among black adolescents with mental illnesses. The study found that improving coping mechanisms to regulate emotions may be crucial for preventing HIV/S...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Nursing·JournalJournal of Child and Family Studies·DateMar 27, 2017

Songs that make robots cry

A machine-learning device developed by Osaka University can detect the emotional state of its listeners and produce new songs that evoke different feelings. This technology has the potential to enhance the interactive music experience and be applied in healthcare settings to motivate people to exercise or improve their mood.

Happy notes, happy memories

Researchers found that musical cues with high arousal and positive emotion triggered the recall of clear, vivid memories, while those with negative emotions led to less specific recollections. The study's findings suggest that emotional content of musical cues influences the type of memories accessed.

SourceSpringer·JournalMemory & Cognition·DateFeb 28, 2017

Emotions are cognitive, not innate, researchers conclude

New York University researchers LeDoux and Brown argue that emotions arise from a general cortical network of cognition, similar to conscious experiences. They propose a higher-order theory of emotional consciousness, challenging existing theories that consider emotions as innately programmed in the brain.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 15, 2017

Pride -- sin or incentive?

A study by UC Santa Barbara researchers suggests that humans accurately predict the qualities valued in their local population and generate pride based on those values. The 'advertisement-recalibration theory of pride' proposes that pride serves as a motivator to cultivate traits and behaviors that increase others' valuation.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 6, 2017

Children are more apt to confess misdeeds if they think parents will react positively

A new study from the University of Michigan found that older kids are more likely to view confessing as right, while younger children connect positive emotions to lying and negative emotions to confession. Parents can foster open communication by listening without anger, making it critical for teens grappling with adult issues.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalJournal of Experimental Child Psychology·DateJan 9, 2017

Feeling grateful? No, thanks!

A new study by American University professor Anthony Ahrens reveals a surprising link between autonomy and gratitude. Individuals high in autonomy tend to experience less gratitude and value it less, suggesting that self-reliance may hinder social connections.

SourceAmerican University·JournalCognition & Emotion·DateDec 13, 2016

Enjoying your workout is the best motivation

Researchers found that four factors - perceived competence, social interaction, novel experiences, and physical exertion - trigger positive emotions in exercise. Enjoyment is a key factor among regular exercisers, leading to increased motivation and adherence.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateOct 6, 2016

Meditation keeps emotional brain in check

A new study from Michigan State University suggests that meditation can help tame negative emotions in people of all mindfulness levels. Participants who meditated showed similar levels of 'emotion regulatory' brain activity as those with high natural mindfulness, indicating improved emotional health.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateOct 3, 2016

A simple antidote for shame

A new study suggests that drinking cold water can reduce feelings of shame and regret by regulating emotions and temperature. Researchers found that people in warm environments tend to feel more regret after making mistakes, but consuming cold drinks or being exposed to cold temperatures can help alleviate these emotions.

SourceSociety for Consumer Psychology·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateOct 3, 2016

Insecure childhood can make dealing with stress harder

A study found that individuals with insecure childhood experiences had lower task performance under emotionally negative conditions and less brain activity in response to target letters. This suggests that inefficient emotional regulation strategies may lead to reduced cognitive resources for task completion.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateAug 31, 2016

CONRAD launches Quatro in South Africa and Zimbabwe

The Quatro Study will inform ongoing product development efforts by gathering end-user input on four vaginal delivery systems for HIV and multipurpose prevention. The study, recruiting 200 healthy women ages 18-30 in South Africa and Zimbabwe, assesses user experiences of placebos with no active ingredients.

SourceCONRAD·DateJul 5, 2016

Research reveals pain and pleasure of sad music

A study of 2,436 people found that listening to sad music can lead to feelings of pleasure, comfort, and relief, but also painful experiences related to personal loss. The research has implications for music therapy and rehabilitation, highlighting the complexity of human emotions in response to sad music.

SourceDurham University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 14, 2016

Money really does matter in relationships

Researchers found that wealthy men prioritize physical attractiveness and engage in short-term mating, while committed women may adopt more consistent strategies due to reproductive costs. The study suggests evolutionary psychology principles influence mate selection across cultures.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateMay 24, 2016

Brain images reveal first physical evidence that AA prayers reduce cravings

Long-term AA members who recited AA prayers after viewing drinking-related images reported less craving for alcohol than those who just read a newspaper. Brain activity increased in areas responsible for attention and emotion, suggesting an innate ability to minimize the effect of alcohol triggers.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalThe American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse·DateMay 12, 2016

Reclaiming 'shame'

Researchers are often hesitant to discuss shame, using terms like ostracism instead, according to UC Santa Barbara researcher Thomas Scheff. Scheff argues that conventional thoughts about shame see it as an emotion triggered by a particular stimulus, but he believes humans are built around shame and it's time to reclaim the term.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of General Practice·DateApr 12, 2016

Injustice can spread

A study published in Scientific Reports found that writing a message to the perpetrator can disrupt the chain of unfair behavior, calming negative emotions and leading to fairer interactions. The researchers suggest this strategy as a way to stop the spread of injustice.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 29, 2016

Let it go: Reaction to stress more important than its frequency

A study by Penn State and Columbia University found that individuals who experience more negative emotions and perceive stressful events as more stressful have lower heart rate variability, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This suggests that reaction to stress is more important than its frequency in determining health risks.

SourcePenn State·JournalPsychosomatic Medicine·DateFeb 25, 2016

New study shows emotional cost for parents who put on a happy face for their children

A recent study found that parents' attempts to regulate their emotional expressions can detract from their well-being and high-quality parent-child bonds. Parents reported feeling less authentic and experiencing lower emotional well-being when suppressing negative emotions and amplifying positive emotions during childcare. The study su...

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateFeb 23, 2016

Study of firefighters finds potential pathway between insomnia and depression

A new study of firefighters suggests that insomnia and nightmares may increase the risk of depression by impairing emotion regulation strategies. The study found that limited access to these strategies, such as problem-solving skills and negative emotions decrease, was the strongest indirect effect for both relationships.

SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Sleep Medicine·DateFeb 17, 2016

Emotion dysregulation in borderline personality disorder: A problem of too much drive and too little control?

A new study reveals that individuals with borderline personality disorder exhibit enhanced amygdala activity and reduced dorsolateral prefrontal cortex function when processing negative emotions, suggesting a lack of control over emotional responses. This findings support the concept of BPD as a disorder of emotion dysregulation.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateJan 13, 2016

The way you sound affects your mood

Researchers created an audio platform that modifies voices to sound happier, sadder or more fearful, and found participants' emotional state changed accordingly. The study suggests people don't always control their own voice to match emotions, but listen to it to gauge feelings.

SourceLund University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 11, 2016

Brain scans explain quickness to blame

The study found that people use two different mechanisms to judge intentionality, relying on emotion for negative outcomes and statistics for positive outcomes. Brain scans revealed differences in brain activity between individuals with different personality traits and psychological measures.

SourceDuke University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 4, 2015

A wardrobe full of embarrassments

Researchers developed a tool to measure consumers' 'brand embarrassment tendency', which determines how likely they are to feel shame or embarrassment when wearing certain brands. The study found that brands like Ed Hardy and Lonsdale trigger more brand embarrassment than others, affecting consumer buying intentions.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalJournal of Business Research·DateNov 27, 2015

Vanilla yogurt makes us feel happy, suggests research

A new study published in Food Research International found that eating vanilla yoghurt can make people feel happy due to the pleasant surprise of tasting a different flavor. Researchers discovered that yoghurts with lower fat content also elicit stronger positive emotional responses.

SourceElsevier·JournalFood Research International·DateNov 9, 2015

Let your head do the talking

Researchers from McGill University found that people are highly accurate at judging emotions based on head movements alone, even without sound or facial expressions. This discovery could aid in the development of automated emotion recognition systems or human-interaction robots.

SourceMcGill University·JournalEmotion·DateOct 27, 2015

New in the Hastings Center Report

The Hastings Center Report explores enhancement debates, including gene editing and emotions. Alberto Giubilini argues that the methodological divide between bioconservatives and bioliberals is less significant than thought. The report also examines genome editing, ecological research ethics, and organ donation conversations.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalHastings Center Report·DateOct 15, 2015