Articles tagged with Psychological Assessment
Researchers found that trained Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening officers were slower than undergraduate students but more accurate in identifying T-shaped arrangements on computer screens. Consistent search patterns freed up brain processing, improving performance.
A study in Journal of Analytical Psychology reveals internal conflict between the left and right parts of the brain when triggered by 'hot button' words, affecting sense of self and external responses.
A recent study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that nearly half of young men with newly-diagnosed erectile dysfunction (ED) experience severe ED. Younger patients had lower body mass index, higher testosterone levels, and fewer medical conditions compared to older patients.
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.
New research by psychologists at the universities of Kent, Magdeburg and Cambridge has shown that some people can intentionally suppress unwanted memories and control their brain activity, thereby abolishing brain activity related to remembering. This finding has major implications for brain activity guilt detection tests.
A Wake Forest University researcher and four colleagues found that measurements of brain activity in the prefrontal cortex can help assess a person's potential for leadership. Leaders with higher levels of neurological self-complexity demonstrate greater adaptability when facing novel situations.
A study by the Wellcome Trust found that four out of five mugging victims experienced excessive mistrust and paranoia lasting up to six months after the attack. Factors such as feeling defeated, worrying excessively, and difficulties sleeping increased paranoid fears in victims.
A new study finds that brief mindfulness training can improve standardized test scores and working memory capacity by reducing mind wandering. Participants who received mindfulness training showed a significant improvement in accuracy on the GRE and higher working memory capacity compared to those who received nutrition instruction.
A new study suggests that our experiences of space and time have more in common than previously thought, with people perceiving the future as closer to the present. The researchers found that a temporal Doppler effect occurs when movement through space is toward the future, making it feel closer to the present.
A long-term study by Ruhr-University Bochum found that patients who undergo plastic surgery experience improved life satisfaction, self-esteem, and mental health. The results suggest that cosmetic surgery can be a successful treatment for psychological variables, with no adverse effects observed.
A Penn Medicine physician highlights the need for a unified approach to value in health care reform, as divergent priorities between patients and physicians create obstacles. Patients and physicians have different notions of value, with patients seeking enhanced experiences and physicians focusing on efficiency and evidence-based care.
Researchers identified a protective effect of excessive threat vigilance on PTSD development in infantry soldiers during combat deployment. The study found that genetic variations in the serotonin transporter gene were associated with this behavior, which can be trained through attention bias modification to reduce PTSD risk.
A new study by researchers at the University of Bergen found that an iPhone app, iDichotic, produces as reliable results as laboratory tests. The app measures brain function in language processing and attention, opening up new possibilities for psychological research and remote testing.
A new study found that women who accurately perceive their heartbeats are less likely to view their bodies as objects, reducing the risk of eating disorders and other mental health issues. The study provides valuable insights into the importance of internal body awareness for maintaining positive body image.
A recent book chapter reviews psilocybin's potential to alleviate psychological distress in cancer patients, including anxiety, depression, and existential distress. The hallucinogen treatment model has been shown to induce mystical or spiritual experiences, leading to improved psychological, spiritual, and existential well-being.
Research finds that junior male soccer players experience chronic stress, exhaustion, and disillusion with their sport at a young age. Players under external pressure from others are most vulnerable to burnout. The study suggests that perfectionism can be both a potent energizing force and a costly force for athletes.
Researchers found that Facebook status updates were significantly more memorable than sentences from books and faces. The study suggests that the casual, personal style of digital communication resonates with our hardwired memory abilities.
A study found that spending four days in nature, disconnected from electronic devices, improves creative problem-solving skills by 50%. The researchers used the Remote Associates Test to measure creativity and found significant benefits among participants.
Study finds that people can't accurately judge emotions from facial expressions alone but can recognize them through body language. The researchers tested this with dozens of real-life intense images and found that participants were unable to tell apart positive and negative faces.
Pediatric patients with noncardiac chest pain exhibit higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to those with innocent heart murmurs. The UGA research found a statistically significant increase in anxiety and depression among these patients.
A study by Vanderbilt University psychologists found that women are better than men at recognizing living organisms, such as birds and animals. In contrast, men tend to perform better in recognizing vehicles like cars and airplanes.
Research suggests that SAT scores are a useful indicator for college admissions decisions, as they positively correlate with academic performance. Contrary to previous research, taking socioeconomic status into account has little effect on the relationship between SAT scores and college performance.
A new UCLA psychology study found that pre-wedding uncertainty, especially among women, predicts higher divorce rates and less marital satisfaction years later. Women with doubts were two-and-a-half times more likely to divorce than those without doubts.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that reminders of money cause consumers to focus on primary features and brand name. This can lead to overlooking certain product attributes when making purchasing decisions.
An analysis of 42 US presidents suggests that fearless dominance, a trait associated with psychopathy, may be an important predictor of presidential performance. This study found correlations between boldness and higher ratings for leadership, persuasiveness, crisis management, and Congressional relations.
A new lineup technique, 'deadline confidence judgments,' improves accuracy by 20-30% compared to traditional methods. Witnesses are presented with individual photos and must rate their confidence within seconds.
Researchers found that confident consumers pay more attention to high-level product features and abstract benefits, while less confident consumers focus on concrete details. This shift in attention is attributed to psychological confidence affecting consumers' perception of information relevance.
Two studies examine the psychological status of Fukushima nuclear plant workers and residents' internal radiation exposure after the 2011 meltdown. Researchers found high rates of psychological distress and posttraumatic stress response among Daiichi plant workers, while Minamisoma residents had low levels of cesium radiation exposure.
A recent study conducted at the University of Granada found that both men and women experience intimate and romantic sexual fantasies involving their partner or loved one. Men tend to fantasize more frequently about exploratory activities, while women often imagine scenarios of being forced to have sex. The study suggests that having s...
A new study published in Perspectives on Psychological Science suggests that employees' interests are a stronger predictor of job performance than overall interest scores. The research found that those whose interest profiles matched their job profiles were more likely to perform well, help others, and stay with the company longer.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that people consistently prefer options that come first, even when making quick choices. The study tested this effect in various settings, including consumer marketing and parole decisions, suggesting that the 'primacy effect' may be an evolutionary adaptation favoring firsts.
A new study found that consumers' preference for larger selections decreases when making choices involving the distant future. Consumers tend to focus on end goals and less about how to get there, leading them to prefer smaller and simpler assortment of options.
A new study by Stanford psychologists reveals that race affects juvenile sentencing, with participants who imagined a black offender more likely to support life sentences without parole. The study's findings highlight the fragility of protections for juveniles when race is in play.
Research in Psychological Science explores public reaction to task force recommendations, citing factors such as anecdotes and perception of medical treatments. The study suggests that changing the public's view on prostate-cancer screenings may require pictorial displays to help evaluate data more effectively.
A new meta-analysis of research on athletes and pain perception reveals that regular exercise can help alleviate pain. Athletes were found to have consistently higher pain tolerance than normally active adults, with endurance athletes exhibiting moderate tolerance and game sports athletes showing a higher but more varied tolerance.
A study of over 800 sets of twins found that genetics had a greater impact on forming key traits such as self-control, decision-making, and sociability than previously thought. The results suggest that genetically influenced characteristics may be the key to a person's success in life.
A new study published in Psychological Science finds that both men and women perceive images of sexy women's bodies as objects, while they view sexy-looking men as people. This study contributes to our understanding of objectification and its impact on human perception.
Researchers found that changing subject matter of questions increases accuracy on longer tests, outperforming groups with random or sequential question patterns. The study suggests a new approach to minimize 'output interference' and improve standardized testing outcomes.
Researchers found that older adults who experienced moderate psychological distress were seven times more likely to experience functional limitation than those without distress. Engaging in physical activity can help achieve greater independence and positive health gains for active older adults.
A new study found that children who experienced general trauma, physical punishment, and emotional abuse are more likely to develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adulthood. Emotional abuse was the strongest predictor of IBS, with a significant association observed mainly in women.
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.
A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that creating psychological distance can reduce cognitive difficulty and anxiety in choice situations. By manipulating abstract thinking and body postures, researchers discovered that leaning away from a screen or task can make decisions feel less difficult.
A UMass Amherst cognitive researcher has developed a systematic approach to enhancing creativity by teaching people to notice obscure features and build solutions around them. The technique, known as the generic parts technique (GPT), was shown to improve problem-solving skills in individuals trained with it.
A study of 1,074 participants across 16 studies found that people are worse at predicting their own emotions in absolute terms but better when compared to others. This relative accuracy might be useful in real-life situations, such as anticipating how clients will react to bad news
Research from Jena University reveals that prejudice development peaks between 5-7 years of age, but well-designed prevention programs can effectively reduce biases. The study highlights the importance of diverse contacts in reducing sweeping generalizations and discrimination, especially for children from social minorities.
A recent study by Princeton researchers found that Hurricane Katrina survivors continued to experience poor mental health nearly five years after the storm. The study, which tracked low-income mothers in the New Orleans area before and after the disaster, showed a persistence of high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Researchers found that long neuropsychological tests can induce mental fatigue in healthy, athletically active subjects. The study aims to establish a baseline measurement for concussion diagnosis and prevent re-injuries by testing athletes at the beginning of their season.
Shakespeare's works show that physical symptoms like dizziness and fatigue are common in characters expressing strong emotions. This data suggests the Bard was a master at portraying psychological causes of physical symptoms, making his characters more human and empathetic.
A new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that female students who were more optimistic achieved significantly higher grades than their less optimistic peers. In contrast, male students who were too optimistic struggled with overconfidence and lower grades due to a lack of conscientiousness.
New research from Northwestern University and Texas A&M University suggests that ideal partner preferences can be flexible once meeting in person. People tend to focus on the whole person rather than individual traits, making preconceived notions less important.
A study found that men are rated higher than women in Wall Street law firms despite receiving equally positive evaluations. The researchers suggest that stereotypes and biases lead to a pro-male bias in numerical ratings.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Social Psychology suggests that racism and prejudices are often learned through cultural exposure. Participants responded faster to word pairs found together in literature, indicating a potential link between cultural stereotypes and individual gut reactions.
Researchers are using smartphones to conduct large-scale language studies, collecting data from over 4,157 subjects in seven languages. This innovative approach allows for faster data collection and opens up possibilities for future research on human cognition.
A study published in Psychology & Marketing reveals that identity is a key motivation behind bequest giving, with charities needing to foster a sense of shared values and recognition with their organization.
A study by the University of Granada found that people's attitude towards their past experiences significantly influences their perception of health and quality of life. Individuals with a negative view of the past tend to have worse physical and mental health indicators, including depression, anxiety, and reduced physical strength.
A study of 228 patients found that those with high anger levels had a higher risk of cardiac events and lower infarction-free survival. The researchers suggest a multidimensional therapeutic approach incorporating physical, pharmacological, and psychotherapy treatment to address underlying suffering.
Research suggests that predictive genetic testing in children may have benefits, including identifying individual's inherited vulnerabilities to diseases and enabling early health interventions. However, existing guidelines warn of potential psychological harm, which critics argue is often based on speculation rather than evidence.
BC researchers found that the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) can accurately identify development delays in children. The tests, which take 5-15 minutes to complete, have been validated for accuracy in primary care settings.
A recent national survey found that many Americans hold incorrect beliefs about memory, diverging from scientific research. These misconceptions can impact legal proceedings and everyday life.
Research examines the long-term psychological effects of 9/11 attacks on Americans, including increased prejudice and anxiety, as well as charitable donations and civic engagement. The study also explores how psychology is helping people understand and cope with the enduring impacts of terrorism.