Articles tagged with Psychological Theory
A novel silver lining theory establishes that believing a weakness can be a strength leads to increased productivity in that domain. In experiments, impulsivity was found to be related to creativity when participants believed it, but not when they disbelieved it.
Anna V. Fisher, Carnegie Mellon University associate professor of psychology, receives a $600,000 award to study the emergence of higher-order cognition in children. Her work explores how individual differences and developmental changes contribute to children's ability to make inferences based on non-obvious commonalities.
New research by Michigan State University scholars suggests that women applying for jobs in male-dominated fields should emphasize masculine traits, such as assertiveness and independence, to be seen as a better fit. This approach is seen as an effective strategy to counteract bias in the hiring process.
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.
A new study by Coventry University and Staffordshire University found that anxiety about a competitive situation makes athletes more likely to slip-up. The research tested 18 active young adults during identical physical tests, with participants experiencing worse coordination and higher mental anxiety in competitive trials.
A new study by Sam Houston State University found that gang members are twice as likely to become both victims and offenders of a crime than non-gang members. The study suggests that gang membership is a common source of both forms of violence, with group processes and norms facilitating trading places between victim and offender.
A study found that adolescent girls who avoided painful thoughts and emotions were more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after child maltreatment. In contrast, those who openly discussed their experiences had lower PTSD symptoms.
Research from the University of Kent found that stronger belief in anti-vaccine conspiracy theories is associated with lower intention to vaccinate. This study suggests that anti-vaccine conspiracy theories may present a barrier to vaccine uptake, posing significant consequences for children's health.
Research suggests women tend to view sexually explicit ads negatively, except when paired with high-value products like luxury watches. Women's attitudes soften towards such ads due to the connotation of exclusivity and rarity associated with premium pricing.
A recent study by MIT economists provides justification for current rules in job-placement programs, which can accommodate married couples. The researchers found that a properly calibrated system can work well even with large job markets and specific constraints. In fact, data from the medical job market suggests that stable matching i...
Researchers at The New School found that reading literary fiction enhances Theory of Mind (ToM), the skill of understanding others' mental states. Literary fiction was shown to improve ToM capabilities more effectively than popular or nonfiction texts.
Scientists at Penn's Annenberg School for Communication found that inaction-related words in the environment can influence self-control, triggering unconscious behavior to stop over-indulging. The study challenged traditional theories that inhibition requires conscious control.
According to Newen and Barlassina's integrative embodiment theory of emotions, feelings of bodily processes are combined with cognitive contents to form a separate mental state. This model addresses the limitations of earlier theories, such as James-Lange and cognitive theories, which neglect the role of bodily states in emotion.
A new study led by Ohio State University researchers found that parents who see their children as part of themselves are more likely to want their children to succeed in achieving their own failed dreams. The study suggests that these parents may be transferring their own broken dreams onto their children.
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 study by Michigan State University scientists discovered sex differences in binge eating rates among female and male rats, suggesting biological factors contribute to eating disorder prevalence. The study's findings have implications for understanding risk factors and mechanisms in humans.
Recent research challenges the predominance of facial expressions as an indicator of emotions, suggesting that body language is a more accurate cue. In experiments, participants were more accurate in guessing emotions from body language alone or combined with facial expressions than from facial context alone.
A new study defines boredom as a mental state fueled by attention failures, leading to frustration and potential dangers such as accidents, impulse control issues, and mortality. The researchers aim to stimulate further research to understand and address the issue.
A study defines boredom as an aversive state caused by difficulty paying attention to internal or external information required for engaging satisfying activities. The researchers hope to develop new strategies to ease the problems of boredom and address potential dangers associated with cognitive errors.
Researchers developed a theory of caregiving through the end of life, comparing it to a theory on bereavement. They found significant conceptual similarities between the two theories, validating both models. The study aims to help nurses provide timely support to family caregivers after a loved one's death.
A meta-analysis of self-determination theory research in health contexts found that respect for patients' autonomy is positively related to feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Satisfaction of psychological needs was also linked to improved patient well-being, including both mental and physical health.
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 scale measures homophobia beyond name-calling, finding male victims bullied by both males and females equally. Only 3.5% of high school students are victimized by homophobic aggressors weekly.
Researchers found that people's performance in recognizing a whole face is no better than their performance with individual features shown alone. The optimal Bayesian integrator model predicts this result, suggesting that relationships among facial features do not enhance information processing, contradicting the 'holistic' theory.
Researchers create 'Literal Lucy' to test speakers' ability to distinguish between literal and pragmatic meaning. The study finds that adopting a third-party perspective improves reliability in making this distinction.
A study found that conspiracy theorists endorse contradictory beliefs, such as believing Princess Diana faked her own death and also thought she was assassinated. People who distrust authorities are more likely to hold these inconsistent views due to their perception of deception.
A University of Missouri researcher and his colleague found major methodological flaws in numerous studies claiming men outperform women in math due to the 'men are better at math' stereotype. The study's findings suggest that interventions based on this stereotype may be doing more harm than good.
Older people tend to be happier due to focusing on positive events and emotions, but direct links between these strategies and mood changes are lacking. More research is needed to clarify the relationship between cognitive processes and happiness in older adults.
The study suggests that facial expressions evolved as a physiological response to threats, but also took on social roles in human evolution. The authors propose the concept of 'exaptation' and 'ritualization,' where original functions changed over time to become social signals.
A new study published in Perspectives on Psychological Science suggests that women's lower scores on technical aptitude tests may be due to biased testing methods rather than a lack of interest. The researcher found that women score lower on technical aptitude at all intelligence levels, while also exhibiting higher levels of general i...
A new study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science suggests that paying too much attention to performance can lead to decreased success. Research has shown that athletes under pressure exhibit changes in movement patterns, such as altered club head angles during golf swings and reduced joint mobility in climbers.
A new field is taking shape, studying scientific thought and behavior, with applications in education and understanding human interest in science. Researchers examine brain correlations, cognitive processes, and developmental aspects of scientific inquiry.
A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that professional buyers do not engage in 'relationships' with salespeople. Buyers prioritize transactions and expect low expectations for future interactions. This challenges traditional marketing strategies focused on building personal bonds with customers.
A new study confirms that fulfilling a diversity of needs is essential to individual happiness. Higher-order needs like social support and self-actualization contribute more strongly to life satisfaction than lower-order needs.
A team of Penn psychologists overturned the long-standing associative word learning theory, finding that children learn their first words through moments of insight rather than gradual exposure. Experiments involving short video segments showed that repeated exposure did not improve accuracy, and early informative vignettes were crucia...
A new study from the British Journal of Social Psychology examines the impact of materialistic messages on women's feelings about their bodies. Women who focus more strongly on their appearance when materialistic values are highlighted are more vulnerable to negative body image.
A new study from the University of Gothenburg challenges popular psychology theories on self-esteem, finding that it is closely linked to people's perceived competence in areas they consider important. The researchers discovered that self-perception of the body is also a key factor in overall self-esteem.
Research suggests that parental guidance plays a crucial role in shaping a child's strengths and development, rather than just inherited genes. Effective parents cultivate their child's individual characteristics and help them progress along positive developmental trajectories.
A new explanation of how humans solve problems creatively has been introduced, providing a roadmap for building systems that perform like humans. The theory proposes the coexistence of two types of knowledge and processing: explicit and implicit. By incorporating this principle, computers can now mimic human creativity in problem-solving.
Psychology of Women Quarterly (PWQ) is a feminist journal publishing qualitative and quantitative research on women and psychology. The journal will be published by SAGE in its 35th anniversary year, with a focus on disseminating important scholarship.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine propose a new theory that links depression to chronic brain inflammation. According to this theory, depression is an adaptive response to stress and trauma, which can lead to neural remodeling and malfunctions.
Prof. Dov Shmotkin's research investigates how people's well-being is tied to their concept of time trajectory, which encompasses past, present, and future. The study found that a stable time trajectory is associated with higher well-being in older adults, particularly those who can contrast their present with past traumatic experiences.
Researchers found that people retain memories more effectively when their brain activity is similar each time they study the same information. This challenges the long-held belief that variable contexts enhance memory retention. The findings provide new insights into effective studying and cognitive processing.
A new study analyzing interactions between players in a virtual universe game has provided large-scale evidence to prove an 80-year-old psychological theory called Structural Balance Theory. The research shows that individuals tend to avoid stress-causing relationships when they develop a society, resulting in more stable social networks.
Researchers found that avatars can portray lifelike and accurate depictions of their creators' personalities within virtual worlds. The study used Second Life as its model, where community members form impressions based on avatar traits, which may accurately match the true personality behind the avatar.
Research by Dr. Michelle Ryan found that women are more likely to be appointed to powerful leadership positions when an organization is in crisis or high-risk circumstances, a phenomenon known as the 'glass cliff'. This stereotype is often reinforced and self-perpetuating, with women continuing to face challenges in politics and business.
A new paper by MSU psychologist Brooke Ingersoll suggests that a combined approach to treating autism could be more effective than traditional behavioral or developmental methods. By combining the strengths of both approaches, supporters can create individualized interventions that meet the unique needs of each child.
A study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that people experience better moods, greater vitality, and fewer aches and pains on Fridays to Sundays. The 'weekend effect' is largely associated with freedom to choose activities and time spent with loved ones.
Companies with female board members fare worse in stock market, but perform equally well on other measures. Share values decline after women are appointed to boards.
The study of self-knowledge has expanded beyond determining internal states to include memory and predicting the future. Psychologist Timothy D. Wilson suggests that becoming an excellent observer of oneself and considering multiple perspectives can help individuals gain a better understanding of themselves.
A new study by University of Rochester researchers shows that striving for materialistic goals like wealth and fame can actually decrease happiness. In contrast, focusing on personal growth, relationships, and community involvement leads to greater well-being.
A study by David Alexander, John Lynch, and Qing Wang found that consumers are four times more likely to choose an incrementally new product over a really new one. The researchers also discovered that actual purchases were twice as likely for the least-new products as the most-new ones, with the difference increasing over time.
A study published in Psychology & Marketing found that when people have too many similar options, they are more likely to leave a store without making a choice. The researchers suggest that this phenomenon, known as the 'choice overload effect,' can affect people's ability to decide in certain situations.
A psychology study finds that spending money on life experiences boosts well-being and satisfaction for both individuals and those around them. Experiences, such as meals out or theater tickets, satisfy higher-order needs like social connectedness and vitality, leading to longer-term happiness.
Researchers found that increased temptation, such as sweets in a gym setting, can actually decrease desire for them. This counteractive self-control theory suggests the mind dampens desire to protect greater goals like good health. The study also applied this concept to other temptations like work and play.
Research suggests that narrative storytelling in entertainment programs can lead to increased persuasion through emotional connection and character identification. This framework helps overcome resistance by allowing viewers to process messages in a less threatening way.
Researchers investigated two theories of forgetfulness and found that temporal confusability, not decay, is the main cause of forgetting over the short term. The study reveals that making information distinct can alleviate and even reverse the classic pattern of forgetting.
A new study finds that women who present themselves as confident and ambitious are viewed as highly competent but also lacking social skills. In contrast, modest female candidates are viewed as well-liked but less competent, while male candidates with similar traits are more likely to be hired.
A study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly found that employees who were sexually harassed reported lower levels of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and job performance. The study analyzed data from 89,382 people and found that younger employees were more affected by sexual harassment.
Recent studies have found that reminding participants of money improves personal performance but decreases interpersonal sensitivity. Participants who were reminded of money spent less time helping others and showed decreased kindness, but increased persistence in difficult tasks.