Feature Channels: Behavioral Science

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Released: 15-Aug-2011 10:35 AM EDT
Conflict Levels Don't Change Much Over Course of Marriage
Ohio State University

Think about how much you fight and argue with your spouse today. A new study suggests that your current level of conflict probably won’t change much for the remainder of your marriage.

Released: 11-Aug-2011 2:25 PM EDT
Major Increase in Hospitalization Rates for Children with Psychiatric Disorders
Stony Brook Medicine

Inpatient hospitalizations for children and adolescents with a psychiatric diagnosis increased significantly over a 12-year period (1996 to 2007), according to a report in the early online edition in Archives of General Psychiatry.

Released: 10-Aug-2011 3:40 PM EDT
Light Switch: Study Finds Increased Light May Moderate Fearful Reactions
University of Virginia

Biologists and psychologists know that light affects mood, but a new University of Virginia study indicates that light may also play a role in modulating fear and anxiety.

   
Released: 10-Aug-2011 8:00 AM EDT
Suicide Considered by Many College-Age Youth
Wichita State University

For many young adults, college is the most exciting time in their life. For others, it’s a time of despair, leading to suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25 in the United States. Wichita State University psychologist Maureen Dasey-Morales talks about the warning signs and myths surrounding suicide.

28-Jul-2011 10:00 AM EDT
Bullying May Contribute to Lower Test Scores
American Psychological Association (APA)

High schools in Virginia where students reported a high rate of bullying had significantly lower scores on standardized tests that students must pass to graduate, according to research presented at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.

28-Jul-2011 10:00 AM EDT
Social Networking’s Good and Bad Impacts on Kids
American Psychological Association (APA)

Social media present risks and benefits to children but parents who try to secretly monitor their kids’ activities online are wasting their time, according to a presentation at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.

28-Jul-2011 10:00 AM EDT
Dealing with the Cyberworld’s Dark Side
American Psychological Association (APA)

People who are cyberstalked or harassed online experience higher levels of stress and trauma than people who are stalked or harassed in person, according to a presentation at the American Psychological Association’s 119th Annual Convention.

28-Jul-2011 10:00 AM EDT
Mindless Eating: Losing Weight without Thinking
American Psychological Association (APA)

Dieters may not need as much willpower as they think, if they make simple changes in their surroundings that can result in eating healthier without a second thought, said a consumer psychologist at the American Psychological Association’s 119th Annual Convention.

28-Jul-2011 1:00 PM EDT
Right to Remain Silent Not Understood by Many Suspects
American Psychological Association (APA)

Almost 1 million criminal cases may be compromised each year in the United States because suspects don’t understand their constitutional rights, according to research presented at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.

28-Jul-2011 1:00 PM EDT
Small Interventions Can Alleviate Underperformance Caused by Stereotype
American Psychological Association (APA)

Picture black and white students at an Ivy League college learning about black students who are a year or so ahead of them in that school. They’re told that the older black students were anxious about fitting in and how they would be viewed in college when they first arrived. But as the older black students got more involved in campus life, they began to find the school rewarding, even exciting as their life course took shape.

28-Jul-2011 10:00 AM EDT
Suicide Risk High for War Veterans in College
American Psychological Association (APA)

Nearly half of college students who are U.S. military veterans reported thinking of suicide and 20 percent said they had planned to kill themselves, rates significantly higher than among college students in general, according to a study presented at the American Psychological Association’s 119th Annual Convention.

28-Jul-2011 10:00 AM EDT
Science Showcase Presents Psychology’s ‘Hands-On’ Benefits
American Psychological Association (APA)

The American Psychological Association will feature three public demonstrations of psychological science applications, including one that enables “seeing” with one’s ears rather than eyes.

Released: 1-Aug-2011 9:00 AM EDT
Kids’ Anxiety, Depression Halved When Parenting Styled to Personality
University of Washington

When it comes to rearing children, just about any parent will say that what works with one kid might not work with another. But which parenting styles work best with which kids? A study by University of Washington psychologists provides advice about tailoring parenting to children’s personalities.

Released: 28-Jul-2011 7:00 PM EDT
Restoring Happiness in People with Depression
University of California, Riverside

Practicing positive activities may serve as an effective, low-cost treatment for people suffering from depression, according to researchers at UC Riverside and Duke University.

Released: 28-Jul-2011 6:00 PM EDT
'Mirroring' Might Reflect Badly on You
University of California San Diego

Not always smart to mimic a person's body language, UC San Diego study shows.

Released: 27-Jul-2011 11:25 AM EDT
Social Acumen Equals Spatial Skill
 Johns Hopkins University

People who are socially skilled – who are adept at metaphorically putting themselves in someone else’s shoes – generally are also more proficient when it comes to spatial skills.

Released: 26-Jul-2011 1:30 PM EDT
Why People Phone Hack; a Look Into the Psyche of Wrongdoing
University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB social psychologist Rex A. Wright, Ph.D. explains why some people do not view phone hacking as unethical and why those that see it as unethical go along with the practice.

Released: 25-Jul-2011 10:30 AM EDT
Ten Years Later, 9/11 Tragedy Has Wide-Ranging Psychological Impacts
American Psychological Association (APA)

Short-term and long-term psychological effects of the 9/11 attacks spread far beyond New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa., according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

Released: 25-Jul-2011 9:00 AM EDT
Some Moms “Doppelgang” Their Daughters’ Style
Temple University

A new study by a Temple University Fox School of Business professor finds that teenage girls have a strong influence on the products their mothers buy solely for personal use, as in makeup or clothing, and that mothers have a much stronger tendency to mimic their daughters’ consumption behavior than vice versa.

Released: 21-Jul-2011 8:15 AM EDT
Washing Away Good and Bad Luck
University of California, Riverside

Do people believe good and bad luck can be washed away? Yes, according to an advanced online publication in the Journal of Experimental Psychology that was co-authored by Rami Zwick, a University of California, Riverside marketing professor in the School of Business Administration.

18-Jul-2011 10:50 AM EDT
Teen Well-Being Spills Over Into Young Adult Health
Health Behavior News Service

A new study finds that teens with a positive sense of well-being are more likely to report being healthy in young adulthood.

Released: 18-Jul-2011 10:00 AM EDT
Personality Plays Role in Body Weight, According to Study
American Psychological Association (APA)

Study concluses that personality can contribute to people's weight fluctuation.

Released: 14-Jul-2011 2:00 PM EDT
Cedars-Sinai Psychiatrist Offers Tips to Beat `Carmageddon’-Related Road Rage
Cedars-Sinai

A Cedars-Sinai psychiatrist who specializes in helping patients cope with stress advises Southern California drivers to protect themselves from becoming victims of road rage during the 405 freeway closure, scheduled July 15-17, and dubbed “Carmageddon.”

Released: 14-Jul-2011 10:45 AM EDT
Do Women Have What it Takes?
Northwestern University

A new Northwestern University meta-analysis (an integration of a large number of studies addressing the same question) shows that even today leadership continues to be viewed as culturally masculine. Thus, women suffer from two primary forms of prejudice. Women are viewed as less qualified or natural in most leadership roles, the research shows, and secondly, when women adopt culturally masculine behaviors often required by these roles, they may be viewed as inappropriate or presumptuous.

Released: 14-Jul-2011 9:45 AM EDT
No Difference in Women’s and Men’s Self-Esteem in Youth and Early Adulthood
American Psychological Association (APA)

Study concludes that no significant difference between men's and women's self-esteem occurs during adolescence and young adulthood.

Released: 13-Jul-2011 2:00 PM EDT
Study Explores Best Motivating Factors for Pursuing a Shared Goal Such as Giving
University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

People who see the “glass as half empty” may be more willing to contribute to a common goal if they already identify with it, according to researchers from The University of Texas at Austin, University of Chicago and Sungkyunkwan University.

Released: 12-Jul-2011 8:30 AM EDT
Your Mother Was Right: Study Shows Good Posture Makes You Tougher
University of Southern California (USC)

Study co-authored by USC Marshall professor examines the link between posture, effectiveness and pain tolerance.

Released: 11-Jul-2011 10:55 AM EDT
The Truth About Cats and Dogs: Pets Are Good for Mental Health of ‘Everyday People’
American Psychological Association (APA)

Pets can serve as important sources of social and emotional support for “everyday people,” not just individuals facing significant health challenges.

6-Jul-2011 3:00 PM EDT
Children’s Personalities Linked to Their Chemical Response to Stress
University of Rochester

Is your kid a “dove” – cautious and submissive when confronting new environments, or perhaps you have a “hawk” – bold and assertive in unfamiliar settings? These basic temperamental patterns are linked to opposite hormonal responses to stress – differences that may provide children with advantages for navigating threatening environments, researchers report in Development and Psychopathology.

Released: 5-Jul-2011 8:05 AM EDT
Voting in Elections Is Stressful – Emotionally and Physiologically
University of Haifa

A new study finds that that cortisol - the "stress hormone" released when a person is under pressure in individuals immediately prior to casting a vote was significantly higher than in the same individuals in similar non-voting conditions.

Released: 1-Jul-2011 10:45 AM EDT
Fast Disclaimers Affect Buyer Behavior
Saint Joseph's University

Though disclaimers at the end of advertisements may appear to be an accepted white noise by audiences, new research published in the Journal of Consumer Research suggests that those disclaimers have a greater impact on buyer behavior than previously thought.

Released: 30-Jun-2011 8:00 AM EDT
Teens Maintain Their Religion as Part of Their Identity During Turbulent High School Years
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

UCLA researchers have found that teens, regardless of their ethnic background, retained their religious identity even as their participation in religious activities, such as attending church, declined. Further, they found that adolescents' ethnic background shaped their religious identity and participation.

Released: 28-Jun-2011 10:25 AM EDT
Marketing Expert Finds Attachment to Cellphones More About Entertainment, Less About Communication
Kansas State University

That panicked feeling we get when the family pet goes missing is the same when we misplace our mobile phone, says a Kansas State University marketing professor. Moreover, those feelings of loss and hopelessness without our digital companion are natural.

Released: 27-Jun-2011 8:25 AM EDT
More than One-Third of College Students Drive While Using Mobile Apps
University of Alabama at Birmingham

A University of Alabama at Birmingham survey of college students reveals that 35 percent use mobile phone applications while driving — even after facing the dangers firsthand.

Released: 27-Jun-2011 8:00 AM EDT
A Little Practice Can Change the Brain in a Lasting Way
McMaster University

A little practice goes a long way, according to researchers at McMaster University, who have found the effects of practice on the brain have remarkable staying power.

Released: 21-Jun-2011 11:00 AM EDT
Two-Thirds of Internet Sexual Offenders Initiate Sex Topics During First Social Network Chat Session
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

Students and young adults are highly susceptible to being contacted by internet sex offenders from the very first time a chat session is initiated, according to a study of online social networking patterns published in the July issue of the American Journal of Nursing (AJN). The study, conducted by a research team working under a United States Department of Justice grant, found that more than two-thirds (63.3%) of internet sexual offenders initiate the topic of sex with middle school and high school students during their first chat session, underscoring the significant issue of on-line risky behavior between sexual offenders and their potential victims. AJN, the leading voice of nursing since 1900, is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

Released: 20-Jun-2011 3:00 PM EDT
Fat Substitutes Linked to Weight Gain
American Psychological Association (APA)

News release concludes that foods containing fat substitutes causes weight gain.

   
15-Jun-2011 12:25 PM EDT
Is Coming Out Always a Good Thing?
University of Rochester

Coming out as lesbian, gay, or bisexual increases emotional well-being even more than earlier research has indicated. But the psychological benefits of revealing one’s sexual identity -- less anger, less depression, and higher self-esteem – are limited to supportive settings, shows a study published June 20 in Social Psychology and Personality Science. The findings underscore the importance of creating workplaces and other social settings that are accepting of all people, but especially gay, lesbian or bisexual individuals.

Released: 17-Jun-2011 6:00 PM EDT
Contrast Changes Trick Your Brain
American University

A new illusion that took second place in the 2011 Best Illusion of the Year Contest—a competition held annually by the Neural Correlate Society—illustrates that our brains can organize what we see based on changes in contrast.

13-Jun-2011 1:50 PM EDT
Johns Hopkins Study Probes "Sacred Mushroom" Chemical
Council on Spiritual Practices

Scientists at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have zeroed in on the dose levels of the “sacred mushroom” chemical psilocybin yielding positive, life-changing experiences, while minimizing transient negative reactions. Former U.S. "Drug Czar" comments.

   
Released: 14-Jun-2011 2:45 PM EDT
Study Examines Link Between Teen Sex and Divorce Rate
University of Iowa

A University of Iowa study found that women who make their sexual debut as young teens are more likely to divorce, especially if "the first time" was unwanted, or if she had mixed feelings about it.

Released: 14-Jun-2011 9:00 AM EDT
Money Can’t Buy Happiness
American Psychological Association (APA)

News release concludes that freedom and personal autonomy are more important to people's well-being than money.

Released: 8-Jun-2011 11:00 AM EDT
Getting Rid of Clutter Leads to Mental Clarity, Liberation, Professor Says
Middle Tennessee State University

After becoming a full professor, Jackie Gilbert felt the need to purge her office (and her life) of papers, files, notebooks and artifacts--all those things that were cluttering her life and mind. It was liberating, she says.

Released: 7-Jun-2011 10:45 AM EDT
Women Warriors Show Resilience Similar to Men
American Psychological Association (APA)

News release concludes that women are as resilient as men in combat.

Released: 7-Jun-2011 10:00 AM EDT
People Judge Therapists By Their Offices
Ohio State University

People may judge the quality and qualifications of psychotherapists simply by what their offices look like, a new study suggests.

Released: 6-Jun-2011 10:30 AM EDT
Kinder, Gentler Video Games May Actually Be Good for Players
Ohio State University

While violent video games may lead to more aggression and anger in players, a new study shows that the opposite is also true: relaxing video games can make people happier and more kind.

Released: 6-Jun-2011 10:30 AM EDT
What, Me Worry? Young Adults Get Self-Esteem Boost from Debt
Ohio State University

Instead of feeling stressed by the money they owe, many young adults actually feel empowered by their credit card and education debts, according to a new nationwide study.

Released: 2-Jun-2011 12:30 PM EDT
Pulling a Fast One
Northwestern University

Do those lightening fast disclaimers at the end of radio and television advertisements scare you away or simply seem like white noise required by regulatory agencies? According to Northwestern University and Wake Forest University research now online in the Journal of Consumer Research, fast disclaimers can give consumers the impression that an advertiser is trying to conceal information. However, trusted brands (versus trust-unknown or not-trusted brands) are immune to the adverse effects of fast disclaimers.

Released: 2-Jun-2011 11:45 AM EDT
Color Red Increases the Speed and Strength of Reactions
University of Rochester

When humans see red, their reactions become both faster and more forceful. And people are unaware of the color’s intensifying effect, finds a study in the latest issue of the journal Emotion.

31-May-2011 11:45 AM EDT
Children of Divorce Fall Behind Peers in Math, Social Skills
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Divorce is a drag on the academic and emotional development of young children, but only once the breakup is under way, according to a study of elementary school students and their families.



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