Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Well Blog: Getting to Know a Sperm-Donor Dad
A new documentary tracks what happens when the offspring of an anonymous sperm donor have the opportunity to meet their biological father.
Cellphones exceed U.S. FCC exposure limits by as much as double for children, study finds
New research shows that cell phones used in the shirt or pants pocket exceed the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) exposure guidelines and that children absorb twice as much microwave...
Record number of Americans support marijuana legalisation, poll shows
Pressure could build to eventually change US laws on the drug, as a new poll shows half of Americans support decriminalisationHalf of Americans now support legalising marijuana use, a record level, amid growing...
Social phobia may affect fraction of teens
A small fraction of teens show signs of a troubling anxiety disorder that can be mistaken for extreme shyness, a new U.S. government study finds.
Caresses enjoyable vicariously, too
It is well-known that we humans enjoy sensual caresses, but the brain reacts just as strongly to seeing another person being caressed, reveals new research.
Canada needs to adopt a national suicide prevention strategy, experts urge
Canada needs to adopt a national suicide prevention strategy, and physicians can play a key role in the strategy, states a new analysis.
Well Blog: Do You Need a Fitness Coach?
The principles of fitness training are well known and widely available online, but some people still want a personal coach.
Approaches to treating substance abuse among African-Americans
A new study is the first to examine the effectiveness of a widely used counseling approach to treating substance abuse among African-Americans. The study found that African-American women were more...
A new view of self-harm
The phenomenon has spread to older people over the plast 10 years. Why?Patti Adler, professor of sociology at the University of Colorado, had never met anyone who self-harmed, until 1982. When she did,...
One in four children exposed to some form of family violence
More than one in four children have been exposed to physical violence between their parents at some time, one in nine of them during the past year, according to new...
The value of subjective and objective evaluations of teacher effectiveness
A new study has found that subjective evaluations are comparable with and complementary to objective measures of teacher effectiveness taken from a teacher's first year in the classroom.
Settling in, stretching out
Harvard College Dean Evelynn M. Hammonds and University President Drew Faust welcomed the families of first-year undergraduates to campus Friday, and urged them to support students’ exploration of new ideas and identities over...
Citizen Scientist 2.0
What does the future of science look like? About a year ago, I was asked this same question. My response was: Transdiciplinary collaboration. Researchers from a variety of domains—biology, philosophy, psychology,...
Beautifying dorm grounds
Isaac Dayno likes to get his hands dirty. The Harvard College freshman grew up in Vermont and sometimes longs to work on the land rather than at a desk in Widener Library....
Know your gnomon
The story of Donner Professor of Science John Huth’s interest in primitive navigation techniques began with a body. Two bodies, actually. On his way to do some kayaking off Cape Cod a...
Associating your car with your identity can lead to aggressive driving
A new study by a Temple University Fox School of Business professor finds those who view their car as an extension of themselves have stronger aggressive driving tendencies.
Psychologists chase down sleep demons
What do Moby Dick, the Salem witch trials and alien abductions all have in common? They all circle back to sleep paralysis.
Ottawa mother gives birth live online
An Ottawa woman who gave birth live over the internet early Sunday morning is now the proud mother of a healthy baby boy.
Scenarios that precede at-home pool drownings of young children identified
Very young children who live in a home with a swimming pool are at risk of drowning, a leading cause of injury death among toddlers. Researchers have now identified three...
Mom looking for answers on baby's brain disorder
A Halifax woman whose baby has a rare brain disorder is frustrated with the lack of knowledge about his condition and is going public in the hopes of saving his...
The Computer That Can Read Your Mind
Researchers are looking at how brain regions interact, with the hope of melding mind and machine, and ultimately making life much better for people with locked-in syndrome.
Video: Cell phone will start sending bill alerts
Under pressure from the FCC, wireless phone providers will begin sending customers bill alerts when they go over their monthly limits. Terrell Brown reports.
Zombies: The Safer Terrorists
How can you test for disaster without freaking out all your co-workers? Assume the best way to test for a disaster is to simulate it. Now factor in that a...
Can’t buy me love: Study confirms it
New research confirms The Beatles’ lyrical hypothesis and finds that “the kind of thing that money just can’t buy” is a happy and stable marriage. Scholars at Brigham Young University...
Do white LEDs disrupt our biological clocks?
You come into contact every day with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) -- they illuminate alarm clocks, new televisions, traffic lights, and smartphone displays. Increasingly, you will see white-light versions of LEDs...
Lice tops seasonal Halloween creepy crawlies
Autumn brings tales of scary delight, but none terrifies parents so much as the note home from school that a case of lice has been detected.
12 Percent of Shy Teens May Have Social Phobia
A new study suggests that socially phobic youth are worse off than the simply shy.
The Twitter gene: FOXP2
Communication on Twitter – or indeed anywhere – would be impossible without FOXP2This is the first in a series of posts by Anna Perman in which she sifts through the alphabetic spaghetti...