Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
From 'Trek' to 'Wars,' Part 3: George Takei on Heroes, Prop 8 and More
This decade has been particularly kind to George Takei.
Nightmares Increase Risk Of Further Suicide Attempts
People who have nightmares following a suicide attempt are five times more likely to attempt suicide again, compared with those who do not have nightmares.
Zen Meditation Alleviates Pain, Study Finds
Zen meditation -- a centuries-old practice that can provide mental, physical and emotional balance -- may reduce pain. A new study in Psychosomatic Medicine reports that Zen meditators have lower...
Random Screening as Accurate as Racial Profiling
Racial profiling is a moral minefield, pitting safety against equity—one human right against another. But forgotten in the furor is a more important moral (and scientific question) about profiling:...
Researchers investigate prenatal smoking link with antisocial behaviour in children
A Cardiff University research project has for the first time studied whether smoking during pregnancy can directly make children more likely to behave anti-socially...
African-American parents more likely to report distrust of medical research
Distrust of medical research appears more common among African American parents than white parents and may present a barrier to enrolment of minority children in research studies, according to a...
Boys have greater psychological well-being than girls, due to a better physical self-concept
Self-concept may be defined as the totality of perceptions that each person has of themselves, and this self identity plays an important role in the psychological functioning of everyone. To...
Divorce, Antidepressants, Or Weight Gain/loss Can Add Years To Your Face
Your mother's wrinkles -- or lack there of, may not be the best predictor of how you'll age. In fact, a new study claims just the opposite. The study, involving...
China food scare: Tough talk alone won't rebuild trust
Tough talk and executions aren't enough to rebuild food safety trust following the melamine scare, says an editorial in The Lancet.
'Newtrition' for the year
For close to a decade, I have been running a nutrition consulting practice and have noticed that people access our services for two reasons: either to look better or to...
Antidepressants lower suicide risk for adults, raise it for youths: review
The SSRI class of antidepressants thought to raise the risk of suicide among teens may significantly reduce the risk in adults, a review suggests. The findings should be reassuring for...
Computerized writing aids make writing easier for persons with aphasia
It is possible to improve writing skills for those with aphasia with the aid of computerised writing aids. This is the conclusion of a doctoral thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy...
Playing a ruthless game
Plenty of young gamers dream about playing videogames for a living, but Robert Bishop has a plan: It's all a matter of suckering in enough victims to make it happen.
Italian woman in euthanasia case will be allowed to die
A woman who has been in a vegetative state for 17 years in Italy was transferred to a hospital on Tuesday where she will be allowed to die following a...
Outaouais transit to ask cellphone users to pipe down
Bus rides in the Outaouais could become a little quieter this spring, when the Outaouais Transit Corporation plans to begin reprimanding riders who talk too loudly on their cellphones.
Ban stun gun use on young people, Ont.'s child advocate urges police
Ontario's child advocate has recommended the provincial police force ban the use of stun guns on minors unless lethal force is necessary.
Neurobiologist Proposes 'The End of Sex as We Once Knew It'
Deciphering the substantial but often ignored differences between the sexes is crucial to developing more effective personalized medicine, says Rockefeller University stress expert Bruce McEwen.
Childhood Beach Vacations Raise Risk of Deadly Skin Cancer
Beach vacations lead to a 5 percent increase in moles known as nevi among children.
Vitamin D Tied To Muscle Power In Adolescent Girls
Vitamin D is significantly associated with muscle power and force in adolescent girls, according to a new study.
Belly Buttons May Signal a Woman's Vigor
Belly buttons may serve a greater purpose than mere cosmetics.
Education may not slow memory loss: study
Spending more time in school may help reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease, but it doesn't seem to slow memory loss once the decline starts.
Stress diminishes judgment, brain scans show
Stress is your way of life, you're juggling tasks like a circus act, and you think you're operating at peak capacity? Think again, says yet another study on the effect...
Surviving a layoff can hurt too
Stress, fear and guilt take their toll on employees left to grapple with the aftermath of workforce losses. ...
Older is better for whale moms: study
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Older mothers may do a better job raising their children than younger, less-experienced moms, at least among killer whales, researchers reported on Monday.
Mind: The Muddled Tracks of All Those Tears
Common psychological wisdom holds that crying offers healthy catharsis, but some researchers say that isn’t always the case.
Vital Signs: Behavior: $1? No Thanks. 100 Cents? You Bet.
Researchers have found that people are often lured into making decisions by numbers that seem bigger than they really are.
Anti-abortion protesters charged with trespassing on campus
Several students who participated in a graphic anti-abortion display at the University of Calgary have been charged with trespassing, according to a lawyer for the students.
Combined measures of maternal drinking can predict resulting problems in children
While many people are aware that drinking during pregnancy can lead to a range of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs), including the serious Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), linkages between maternal-drinking...