Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder runs in families
Earthquakes have aftershocks - not just the geological kind but the mental kind as well. Just like veterans of war, earthquake survivors can experience post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety...
Selflessness -- Core Of All Major World Religions -- Has Neuropsychological Connection
All spiritual experiences are based in the brain. That statement is truer than ever before, according to a University of Missouri neuropsychologist. A new study has data to support a...
Women prefer prestige over dominance in mates
Los Angeles, CA – December 17, 2008 – A new study in the journal Personal Relationships reveals that women prefer mates who are recognized by their peers for their skills,...
Sex difference on spatial skill test linked to brain structure
Men consistently outperform women on spatial tasks, including mental rotation, which is the ability to identify how a 3-D object would appear if rotated in space. A study shows a...
Cry Me A River: The Psychology Of Crying
We've all experienced a 'good cry.' But why is crying beneficial? And is there such a thing as a 'bad cry'? A new report describes some recent findings about the...
Bribery inquiry into Nobel jurors after paid trips to China
Jurors who accepted all-expenses-paid trips to China to discuss awards investigated
Online Register Created To Flag Scientific Papers That May Be Tainted By Fraud Or Misconduct
A group of French research students is launching an online register to flag up scientific papers that have been tainted by fraud and other types of scientific misconduct. Once a...
Are power and compassion mutually exclusive?
The fact that many cultures emphasise the concept of 'noblesse oblige' (the idea that with great power and prestige come responsibilities) suggests that power may diminish a tendency to help...
Racial tension in a 'split-second'
Interracial and interethnic interactions can often be awkward and stressful for members of both majority and minority groups. People bring certain expectations to their interactions with members of different groups...
Narrative entertainment programming can lead to persuasive outcomes
Entertainment-education is a common strategy for incorporating health and other educational messages into popular entertainment media. Its goal is to positively influence awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours in viewers. Examples...
Most women report satisfaction with egg donation
Two-thirds of women who donated eggs to fertility clinics reported satisfaction with the process, but 16 percent complained of subsequent physical symptoms and 20 percent reported lasting psychological effects, according...
What are you looking at? Scientists find out
Japanese researchers have reproduced images of things people were looking at by analyzing brain scans, opening the way for people to communicate directly from their mind.
Anxious? Do a crossword puzzle
Anxious people often engage in mindless distractions to keep from thinking scary or troubling thoughts. But results from a new brain imaging study by a University of California, Berkeley, researcher...
Why Does War Breed More Boys?
A curious shift occurs during and right after a war: more boys tend to be born than girls. It’s been documented for decades in many nations, especially during long conflicts...
Indian scientists 'must prioritise the needs of the poor'
Indian S&T experts have called for the country's scientists to refocus their efforts on national problems and the needs of the poor.
Growing income gap among US families suggests increasing economic insecurity
The incomes of American families with children have become increasingly stratified since 1975, with income inequality increasing two-thirds during a 30-year period, according to findings published in the December issue...
Study: Prejudice could cost a black worker thousands
A recent study in the Journal of Political Economy sheds light on the role racial prejudice plays in the wage gap between whites and blacks in the U.S.
New Medication Brings Hope Of Jet Lag Cure
Researchers have found a new drug with the potential to alleviate jet lag and sleep disorders caused by shift work.
Possible Clues To Root Of Epilepsy, Autism, Schizophrenia
Researchers have found a potential clue to the roots of epilepsy, autism, schizophrenia and other neurological disorders.
I'm A Believer: Some Product Claims Work Better Than Others
Consumers face a barrage of product claims each day. What makes those claims believable? A new study says both marketers and consumers can benefit from information about the way people...
VCU survey: US public supports genetic research, testing and government spending on research
The 2008 Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences survey shows that eight in 10 adults nationwide favor making genetic testing easily available to all who want it, and 54 percent say...
Interview: Fast cars, skydiving, new catalytic concepts...
Joanne Thomson asks: are there no barriers to Scott Denmark’s adventures?
Mind and Brain
In periodic posts, I've been trying to lay out the modern scientific consensus on the mind/brain problem, with mixed success. If I had come across the following passage, from Ray...
Truth About Give And Take In Social Situations: The More You Take The More You Lose
In everyday social exchanges, being mean to people has a lot more impact than being nice, research has shown. Feeling slighted can have a bigger difference on how a person...
N.B. pathologist should see results from test review, judge says
A New Brunswick judge says the disgraced former head of pathology at the Miramichi Regional Hospital has the right to see the results of a major review of his work.
Is your child ready for a cell phone?
Your 8-year-old child wants a cell phone for Christmas, but is he or she really ready for the responsibility? University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) paediatric psychologist David Schwebel, Ph.D.,...
Why Do I Laugh at Funny Things?
Laughter spreads positive emotions, decreases stress, and contributes to the cohesiveness of a group.
Sex and Cheating: When Does It Count?
Ever since Bill Clinton, the nature of the act has become increasingly vague.