Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
'Culture Of We' Buffers Genetic Tendency To Depression
A genetic tendency to depression is much less likely to be realized in a culture centered on collectivistic rather than individualistic values, according to a new study. In other words,...
Pitt study shows linkage between teen girls' weight and sexual behaviour
A University of Pittsburgh study sheds new light on the relationship between race, body weight and sexual behaviour among adolescent girls. The results suggest that a girl's ethnicity and her...
Adolescents Think School Bullying 'Will Keep On Happening' And Resign Themselves To It
Research in Spain reveals that schoolchildren see the victims as "passive persons and socially incompetent", and the abusers as "strong, brave and extrovert individuals."
Profile: Life in the cage
Jens Reich has won the Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker award for his scientific achievements and political courage
Halloween Fears And Phobias
A recent article addressed the issue of children being frightened of costumed characters and some of the other fears they might experience. In some cases, this fear escalated into a...
Musicians Make The Best Researchers?
The performative and improvisatory aspects of music compares favorably with the temporal, polyphonic aspects of scholarly research, says University of Illinois professor of education Liora Bresler. Understanding that could improve both...
Statins Show Dramatic Drug And Cell Dependent Effects In The Brain
A new study finds that similar statin drugs can have profoundly different effects on brain cells -- both beneficial and detrimental. These findings reinforce the idea that great care should...
Review: $99 WikiReader is a pocket encyclopedia
(AP) -- When I was a kid, my dad bought a copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica. It had 32 volumes and took up 4 feet in the book case....
Answering That Age-old Lament: Where Does All This Dust Come From?
Where does it come from? Scientists are reporting a surprising answer to that question, which has puzzled and perplexed generations of men and women confronted with layers of dust on...
Olivia Judson: A Language of Smiles
When it comes to mood adjustment, is it possible that putting on a happy face might actually work?
Obituary: Sula Wolff
It is rare for psychiatrists to make their mark by carrying out original research on groups of children not hitherto recognised as sharing particular characteristics. However, Sula Wolff, who has died aged 85,...
Aussie teens have tough time
Australian teenagers have some problems, according to a recent study that found high rates of depression, drug use, and obesity.
Gossip in the workplace: A weapon or gift, new research from IU
Gossip in the workplace can be a weapon in reputational warfare or a gift and can offer clues to power and influence not found on organisational charts. New research from...
Poor in rural Oregon face 'double binds' when getting food
A new study by Oregon State University researchers shows that those in poverty in rural Oregon often know what kinds of foods they should be eating, but face tough choices...
Married with children the key to happiness?
Having children improves married peoples' life satisfaction and the more they have, the happier they are. For unmarried individuals, raising children has little or no positive effect on their happiness....
Like mother, like daughter, at least around the eyes
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research suggests the old saying commonly told to husbands-to-be is true, that if you want to know what your wife will look like, look at her mother.
Families suffer from problem gambling
Many people perceive gambling to be a harmless recreational activity. However, it is estimated that six to eight million people in the United States personally suffer from a gambling related...
Weight Gain Associated With Antipsychotic Drugs
Children and adolescents gained an average of one to one-and-a-half pounds a week, a large study found.
Complex images aid learning
A new study measuring students' ability to retain information for pictures has refuted claims that visually complex images could hinder learning.
Marketing of unhealthy cereals to kids 'staggering': Yale study
The least-healthy breakfast cereals are the ones most aggressively marketed directly to children as young as age two, according to a new study from Yale University in New Haven, Conn.
Singing During Pregnancy May be Harder Due to Hormones
The question of how hormones affect a woman's voice is relevant to professional singers because hormonal fluctuations may place them at risk of injury. Knowing when the risks are greatest...
Facebook Keeps Profiles of the Dead
Social Network will "Memorialize" Profiles of the Dead if their Friends or Family Request It
Legal counsel affects death penalty cases
Legal counsel is a matter of life and death in Houston, but it is not necessarily tied to a defendant's socioeconomic status, according to new research by Scott Phillips, associate...
Maternal Mice Fed High-Fat Diet Produce Larger Pups
Could a woman's food choices during pregnancy affect not only the size and health of her children, but of her grandchildren? Yes, suggests a new study.
Chinese science to be showcased on one website
China is trying to make the most of its science spending by uniting information about the nation's research activities on one website.
Crushing cigarettes in a virtual reality environment reduces tobacco addiction
Smokers who crushed computer-simulated cigarettes as part of a psychosocial treatment program in a virtual reality environment had significantly reduced nicotine dependence and higher rates of tobacco abstinence than smokers...
How to Teach a Man to Talk Like a Woman
How does the voice of a woman differ from the voice of man? You might think that pitch is the big difference, but according to speech pathologist James Dembowski, you...
On The Scope Of Skeptical Inquiry
There has been much discussion lately on this blog and elsewhere about the relationships among skepticism, atheism, and politics. I have roundly criticized Richard Dawkins for extending scientific skepticism into...