Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Harsh Punishment Backfires: Psychologists Offer Ways To Improve Prison Environment, Reduce Violent Crime
U.S. prisons are too punitive, and often fail to rehabilitate, but targeting prisoners' behavior, reducing prison populations and offering job skills could reduce prisoner aggression and prevent recidivism, says one...
Epidemic Of Student Cheating Can Be Cured With Changes In Classroom Goals
Schools have the ability to drastically reduce cheating among their students -- all they need to do is follow the relatively simple and inexpensive solutions suggested by research, an expert...
Mothers, But Not Fathers, Follow Their Own Moms' Parenting Practices
When it comes to how they raise their children, mothers today tend to follow the same practices their own mothers did, according to a new study that looked at parenting...
Obama Takes Health Debate to N.H. School
Fans and foes of President Obama’s health care push descended on a high school to give Mr. Obama a piece of their minds — though they appeared to spend the...
Household financial contributions by adult live-in children are influenced by family structure
Single parents are more likely than parents in nuclear families to receive financial help from their grown, live-in children, according to research to be presented at the 104th annual meeting...
Scientists observe nanocrystal growth
BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists report the first real-time, direct observation of single nanocrystal growth in solution revealed "much of what we thought we knew is...
Renowned canine researcher puts dogs' intelligence on par with 2-year-old human
Although you wouldn't want one to balance your checkbook, dogs can count.
Psychopaths have faulty brain connections, scientists find
LONDON (Reuters) - Psychopaths who kill and rape have faulty connections between the part of the brain dealing with emotions and that which handles impulses and decision-making, scientists have found.
Brain radiotherapy affects mind
Radiotherapy used to treat brain tumours may lead to a decline in mental function many years down the line, say Dutch researchers.
Testosterone-raising drug iffy
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Commercials targeting U.S. middle-age men with lowered sex drive and melancholy moods may be scientifically unfounded, experts say.
Parents can help stop the obesity epidemic, says psychologist
Childhood obesity has quadrupled in the last 40 years, which may mean today's children become the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents, a leading obesity expert...
Father-son team says positive gains can be made in 'psychological wealth'
A focus on psychological wealth rather than financial wealth can help people get through today's tough times, according to two of the world's leading psychological experts on happiness. More money...
Study: Higher education playing bigger role in gender wage gap
While higher education has helped women narrow their long-running wage gap with men, there is one college-related factor that has becoming increasingly important in perpetuating that gap, according to new...
A double-threat to teen health
As teens head back to school, health teachers may want to revise their lesson plans. Temple researchers have found that kids who engage in heavy drinking will more than likely...
Researcher: Dogs have IQ of human toddlers
TORONTO, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Dogs are as bright as a human toddler, a Canadian canine researcher told the American Psychological Association Saturday.
Brain Power: After Injury, Fighting to Regain a Sense of Family and Self
A group of scientists is investigating delusions caused by brain trauma for clues to one of the most confounding problems in brain science: identity.
Female supervisors more susceptible to workplace sexual harassment
Women who hold supervisory positions are more likely to be sexually harassed at work, according to the first-ever, large-scale longitudinal study to examine workplace power, gender and sexual harassment.
Ability to process information as a baby continues into adulthood
Infants who excel at processing new information at 6- and 12-months-old, typically excel in intelligence and academic achievements as young adults in their 20's, according to a study directed by...
Psychologists say longer lives can still lead to happier golden years
As more people live well into their 80s and 90s, it's reassuring to know that most people get happier as they age and exert more emotional control than younger adults,...
Psychological factors help explain slow reaction to global warming, says APA task force
While most Americans think climate change is an important issue, they don't see it as an immediate threat, so getting people to 'go green' requires policymakers, scientists and marketers to...
Teaching resilience, sense of purpose in schools can prevent depression and improve grades
Teaching children how to be more resilient along with regular classroom instruction can improve children's outlook on life, curb depression and boost grades, according to a researcher who spoke at...
Why 'Willy' Could Never Be Free
"Free Willy" star chose the comforts of human care over freedom.
The rewards of volunteering
Doing good for others has mental and physical health benefits, researchers say. For more than 20 years, Penny and Ted Landreth have been feeding the hungry and homeless. It's not glamorous work. Afternoons,...
He sees dead people, but never gets used to it
He helped retrieve a corpse from a lake, saw dozens of cadavers in medical school and has been there when 'patients' became 'bodies,' but he never became numb to death's pain. The first...
Does it matter what the doctor weighs?
Some say it matters to patients that physicians practice what they preach. But others consider trust and communication more important. As a registered dietitian, Sharon Salomon of Phoenix teaches clients how to eat right...
Her dad's lymphoma was terminal, so they stopped fighting death
My father died peacefully in his sleep at home not quite 10 years ago. Ever since, I tell people how incredible the experience was for me, my sister and my...
Study: Racinos create mostly low-paying jobs while depressing area incomes
(PhysOrg.com) -- While more states are tapping into the growing popularity of racinos as a means to augment budgets or create college scholarship programs, such facilities add lower paying jobs...
Texas woman delivers sextuplets
HOUSTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Five of six babies born less than six months into their mother's pregnancy were holding their own Friday after a sixth died, relatives in...