Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
A portrait of mental disintegration
Woman accused of stabbing four people at Target spent years in and out of psychiatric facilities, which released her despite her family's pleas to keep her. ...
Times Square bomb suspect had ties to key Pakistani militants
Faisal Shahzad's family background may help explain why he grew radicalized and allegedly contacted the Pakistani Taliban, sources say. ...
Police, thieves and ordinary people apply different logic when making decisions, study shows
A study conducted by researchers in Spain and the United Kingdom reveals that police officers and criminals are more consistent in their judgments than ordinary people. However, police officers' reasoning...
Today's American Moms Older, More Educated
American moms have changed quite a bit over the last two decades, a new report finds
Natural selection for moderate testosterone surprises scientists
A field study of the relationship between testosterone and natural selection in an American songbird, the dark-eyed junco, has defied some expectations and confirmed others...
How Darwin's little-known work impacts current schizophrenia and autism treatment
Historical research by Peter J. Snyder, PhD, reveals more of Charles Darwin's thinking when he completed what may be the first example of a prospective 'single-blind' study of human perception...
Only a policy of presumed consent will improve organ donation rates, say experts
The Organ Donor Taskforce is unrealistic if it thinks that it can dramatically increase donation rates without adopting a policy of presumed consent, say experts in the British Medical Journal...
The art of mindreading - empathy or rational inference?
The ability to infer what another person is thinking is an essential tool for social interaction and is known by neuroscientists as 'Theory of Mind' (ToM), but how does the...
First scientific study showing effects of growth hormone on athletes
Australian researchers have published the results of a study, for the first time showing a positive effect of growth hormone on athletic performance...
Survey: Hiding risks can hurt public support for nanotechnology
A new national survey on public attitudes toward medical applications and physical enhancements that rely on nanotechnology shows that support for the technology increases when the public is informed of...
Sleeping for less than six hours can cause early death, study finds
Researchers find 'unequivocal' link between lack of sleep and increased risk of premature deathSleeping consistently for less than six hours a night can cause an early death, according to a study which claims...
Lack of Sleep in Teen Boys Linked to Obesity
Less sleep is associated with obesity among adolescent boys, a new study suggests
Close, but not too close: Donors to charities aren't always comfortable with a victim-in-need, study finds
Victim-centered charitable campaigns, like those that feature hungry children in distant lands, may be less effective with some potential donors than those that highlight the broader aims of the charity,...
'The pill': 50 years after
Oral contraception didn't end unintended pregnancies, but it offered freedom in career and family planning. Today about 12 million American women take the pill and 80% will use it at...
Mood and anxiety disorders affect many older adults
Rates of mood and anxiety disorders appear to decline with age but the conditions remain common in older adults, especially women, according to a report in the May issue of...
Why is late-life depression harder to treat?
Toronto -- Scientists have found an important clue in the quest to understand why people who suffer from depression in later life are harder to treat and keep well...
'My kid wouldn't do that' - study shows parents' difficulty with teen sexuality
It can be difficult for parents of teenagers to come to terms with the fact their kids may have sex, particularly given widespread concerns about the consequences of teen sexual...
Less sleep may add up to more pounds in adolescents
Adolescents who don't get enough sleep may gain more than some extra time to play video games or text their friends. They also may gain weight.
Is it impossible to end racism and sexism?
Research strongly suggests that people conform to expectations. Perhaps that's why legislation designed to end prejudice has only had limited successBrent Staples was that rare bird in 70s America: a young black man...
Spirituality
To me that is something very deeply personal. But I will tell you this............. While at a Jesuit retreat I prayed to Jesus in a Chapel devoted to him. While I...
The Pill Started More Than a Sexual Revolution
Fifty years ago, the birth control pill began to transform the way regulators viewed their work.
How cooperation is maintained in human societies: Punishment, study suggests
Humans are incredibly cooperative, but why do people cooperate and how is cooperation maintained? A new research study by anthropologists suggests cooperation in large groups is maintained by punishment.
How Much Junk is in Space?
Space, a seemingly vast frontier, is actually pretty crowded with junk, and it's getting worse.
Nutrition assistance programs for children
The American Dietetic Association has published an updated position paper on nutrition assistance programs for children that reviews existing programs and their value, discusses barriers to participation and encourages more...
Global Update: Maternal Health: A New Study Challenges Benefits of Vitamin a for Women and Babies
The study from Ghana showed giving women vitamin A did not save their lives or the lives of their new babies, contradicting an earlier study in Nepal.
Parsing the New Law on Long-Term Care
Experts answer questions about the new Class Act, including who will be eligible and how it will be financed.
When the Ties That Bind Unravel
Experts say it appears to be growing more common, even in families that haven't experienced obvious cruelty or traumas like abuse and addiction.
Man linked to slayings of 3 family members in Hollywood pleads not guilty
A man accused of killing a Hollywood woman earlier this year pleaded not guilty Monday in court, and officials said they are continuing to investigate whether he is linked to...