Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Abusive mothering aggravates the impact of stress hormones
In a new study, researchers have dissected the behavior of mother rats and their infant pups, modeling nurturing by stroking and abuse with electric shock. In this animal model of...
Young children are skilled negotiators, Swedish research finds
Young children are skilled negotiators when it comes to relationships and the content of play, reveals new research from Sweden.
Pre-stored phrases make it easier to be part of a conversation
Researchers in Sweden have now developed a system where pre-stored phrases are used in addition to writing, with a view to making communication faster and more easy-going for people with...
Can a Victoria's Secret shopping bag make you feel glamorous?
Certain brands have personalities that can actually change the way some people feel about themselves, according to a new study.
Video: The Longest Day of the Year
20,000 people gathered at Stonehenge in England to celebrate the 2010 summer solstice-the longest day of the year.
National School Lunch Program increases educational achievement
A new article from the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management is the first to evaluate the long-term health and educational effects of participation in the National School Lunch Program....
People who suppress anger are more likely to become violent when drunk
A study published today in the journal Addiction reveals that drunkenness increases the risk for violent behaviour, but only for individuals with a strong inclination to suppress anger...
Seasonality of child abuse a myth
A new study of homicides of 797 children younger than age five has found that these deaths occur uniformly throughout the year, dispelling the widely held anecdotal notion that the...
New research shows peer drug use may increase an individual's genetic tendency to use drugs
The nature-nurture debate is usually about how much of something is due to our genes and how much is caused by our environment. New research just published in the academic...
Child welfare services need radical changes to guard against abuse
The research review, written for directors and senior managers in children's services, is called Safeguarding in the 21st Century - where to next? and was commissioned by research in practice,...
Twins' parents seek double EI benefits
A Vancouver couple is fighting for the right for each of them to get parental benefits from EI, arguing that both parents need to be home to care for the...
Can multiple sclerosis attacks be minimized in a war zone?
An earlier study has shown that the stress of the Second Lebanon War in Israel increased the frequency of attacks in multiple sclerosis patients. The present study reveals that a...
Brain signs of schizophrenia found in babies
Researchers are the first to identify brain abnormalities in children at high risk for schizophrenia shortly after birth. The finding could lead to earlier detection of schizophrenia and enable better...
Summer Solstice 2010 Pictures: Fire Rites, Druids, More
Pagans play with fire, druids flock to Stonehenge, and revelers build a "friendship nest" to mark the first day of summer 2010. ...
Judge's innovation may offer malpractice fix
(AP) -- Part listening, part cajoling, an innovative approach to resolving medical malpractice cases could become a model for courts around the country thanks to a pioneering judge who...
Cartoon characters affect kids' food choices
Putting an image of Shrek, Dora the Explorer or Scooby Doo on packaged children's snacks has a strong influence on a child's perception of how the product tastes, according to...
Youth define spirituality in terms of positive behaviors, connections
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Few studies have examined the differences between spirituality and religion in adolescents. Now, a University of Missouri researcher is exploring these differences by...
Tom Stoppard in warning over decline of 'printed page' in education
Dramatist expresses fears that the 'moving image' and 'world of technology' are eclipsing the call of literatureThe playwright Sir Tom Stoppard spoke today of his fears that the "printed page" is in danger...
Matthew Colton obituary
My friend and colleague Matthew Colton, who has died of a heart attack aged 54, was a writer and researcher whose international influence stretched across an extraordinary range of disciplines – social work,...
Active play eludes kids in summer: survey
Summer vacation may offer a break from the books but only one-third of Canadian children will likely spend their free time being physically active, a new report suggests.
Obama pledges new steps to promote responsible fatherhood
The initiatives include recruiting and supporting mentors and launching a fathering reentry program for ex-convicts. However, the president also notes that 'we can't legislate fatherhood.' ...
Is Model-Making Really Child's Play?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Children are stalled by the same thinking processes as adults when they assemble models, according to new research.
U.S. high court upholds anti-terror law
The Supreme Court has upheld a U.S. law that bars "material support" to foreign terrorist organizations, rejecting a free speech challenge from humanitarian aid groups.
Mars500 video diary no. 2 - Romain Charles completes the tour
In part 2 of the Mars500 video diary Romain Charles shows us around the control room, the medical facility where the crew do experiments, and where they sleep and eat....
Brain activity predicts autism
In a surprise finding, researchers have discovered that a person’s performance on an autism test can be predicted from an EEG.
Science Weekly podcast: The 'immortal' Henrietta Lacks
Rebecca Skloot tells us about Henrietta Lacks, who is known to scientists through her immortal cells. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer whose cancer cells - taken without her...
Investment manager pleased clients — until his criminal past emerged
Bruce Fred Friedman is now accused of running a $200-million Ponzi scheme. He denies doing so. The case draws attention to a gap in the oversight of those who run...
Italy held to stunning 1-1 draw by N. Zealand
Defending champion Italy was held to a second 1-1 draw, this time by lowly New Zealand in the latest World Cup stunner.