Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Optical illusions show vision in a new light
Optical illusions have fascinated humans throughout history. Greek builders used an optical illusion to ensure that that their columns appeared straight (they built them with a bulge) and we are...
Vascular brain disorder often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, study finds
A devastating vascular disorder of the brain called CADASIL, which strikes young adults and leads to early dementia, often is misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, researchers report.
Discovery of a biochemical basis for broccoli’s cancer-fighting ability
Scientists are reporting discovery of a potential biochemical basis for the apparent cancer-fighting ability of broccoli and its veggie cousins. They found for the first time that certain substances...
Hazardous Neighborhoods Linked to Impaired Mental Abilities
Residing in a psychosocially hazardous neighborhood is associated with worse cognitive function in older age for persons with the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (an alternative form of the gene), according...
Help children get needed sleep by practicing good sleep habits
After-school activities, school work and sports can have your children leading busy lifestyles, making for some late bedtimes. So much activity can take away from sufficient sleep time.
Genetic makeup and duration of abuse reduce the brain's neurones in drug addiction
A study conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory demonstrated that drug addicted individuals who have a certain genetic makeup have lower grey matter density -...
Study examines prevalence of eating disorders among adolescents
Eating disorders are prevalent in the general U.S. adolescent population and are associated with other psychiatric disorders, role impairment, and suicidality, according to a report posted online today that will...
Use of interactive digital exercise games by children can result in high level of energy expenditure
Middle school-aged children who participated in interactive digital gaming activities that feature player movement (exergaming), such as dancing or boxing, increased their energy expenditure to a level of moderate or...
People would rather let bad things happen than cause them, especially if someone is watching
People are more comfortable committing sins of omission than commission - letting bad things happen rather than actively causing something bad. A new study published in Psychological Science, a journal...
Universal screening programs can uncover abuse, study finds
Screening every woman who comes to a health care center does increase the number who acknowledge they have been abused by their partners, a new study confirms.
Weak supporting evidence can undermine belief in an outcome
New research shows that people who receive weak but supportive evidence about a proposition are less optimistic about the outcome than people who receive no evidence at all. The "weak...
What you see is what you do: Risky behaviors linked to risk-glorifying media exposure
Exposure via the media to activities such as street racing, binge drinking and unprotected sex is linked to risk-taking behaviors and attitudes, according to a new analysis of more than...
What doctors (and patients) can learn from air traffic controllers: What's that you say?
A review of 35 years of scientific medical studies confirms that the social and emotional context of the doctor-patient relationship have yet to be incorporated into the equation when it...
Children Make Parents Happy … Eventually
Once children get older, parents become happier than if they hadn't had kids.
Web use doesn't encourage belief in political rumors, but e-mail does
Despite the fears of some, a new study suggests that use of the internet in general does not make people more likely to believe political rumors. However, one form of...
Why poor diet during pregnancy negatively affects offspring's long term health
Poor diet during pregnancy increases offspring's vulnerability to the effects of aging, new research has shown for the first time.
The Fine Art of Healing: Pre-Med Students Immerse Themselves in 'Healing Art' Class
Baylor University is venturing into new territory with an ambitious undergraduate class called Visual Arts and Healing. The class -- intended to serve as a model for other universities and...
Weak Supporting Evidence Hurts Credibility
Some researchers have wondered why a few credibility issues in particular studies (see Marc Hauser in psychology and parts of the IPCC report in 2007 and anything at all related...
Self-Objectification: Facebook Photo Sharing Reflects Female Focus On Appearance
Despite what some sociologists want you to believe, it isn't always men doing the objectification of women. At least on Facebook, some women go out of their way to be...
NSF Seeks Input On Merit Review
Funding: Agency requests feedback on criteria used to evaluate proposals.
Scholarships Reward Public Service
The School of Public Health at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is honoring people who have performed national service through organizations that include the armed forces,...
Baseball Teams Try New Tool to Help Decide Who'll Play
More than half of the Major League Baseball franchises will be using a new analytics system during the 2011 season to keep track of players and make more-informed game-day decisions.
Study shows physician's empathy directly associated with positive clinical outcomes
It has been thought that the quality of the physician-patient relationship is integral to positive outcomes but until now, data to confirm such beliefs has been hard to find. ...
Parents important for keeping adolescents off alcohol
Parents who are both present and engaged are the very best way of preventing teenagers from consuming large quantities of alcohol. Adolescents who smoke, stay out with their friends and...
Accurate measurement of radioactive thoron possible at last
"Many people are now saying: 'Is it really that easy? Then why didn't anyone think of it a long time ago?' But you have to have the right idea at...
Quizzes key to learning for middle school students
(PhysOrg.com) -- Practice might not always make perfect, but a novel study of Midwestern middle school science students suggests it just might.
This craze for 'ahead of' has got to stop ... before it's too late | Mind your language
Why use two words when one will do? Time for 'before' to make a comebackWho would have thought the humble old word "before" would become an endangered species? So far as I...
How Humans Can Affect Nature
How Humans Can Affect NatureSome people accept that the world's climate systems are changing, but try to argue that humans are too puny to be any part of the cause. The...