Feature Channels: Behavioral Science

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Released: 29-May-2018 11:55 AM EDT
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION RECEIVES $1 MILLION GIFT
American Psychological Association (APA)

WASHINGTON – APA fellow David G. Myers, PhD, and his wife, Carol, have donated $1 million to the American Psychological Foundation.

Released: 29-May-2018 11:05 AM EDT
Study: How You Love People Reflects on How You Love Pets
Texas Tech University

“Our research suggests it might be a good idea for potential close relationship partners to have compatible attitudes towards pets,” Marshall said.

22-May-2018 3:05 PM EDT
Alcohol, Anger and Aggression: An Unhappy Combination
Research Society on Alcoholism

Researchers asked 60 adult participants (31 men, 29 women) – recruited through newspaper advertisements – to record their daily social interactions for 20 days. Specifically, for each interaction, participants reported their perception of their interacting partner’s quarrelsome behavior, their own anger and quarrelsome behavior, and the number of alcoholic drinks consumed up to three hours prior to the event.

     
Released: 24-May-2018 1:05 PM EDT
The Secret to Honing Kids' Language and Literacy Skills
Michigan State University

Research from Michigan State University found that a child’s ability to "self-regulate" is a critical element in childhood language and literacy development, and that the earlier they can hone these skills, the faster language and literacy skills develop leading to better skills in the long run.

Released: 24-May-2018 12:05 PM EDT
$2.3 Million Grant Will Fund Research on Oxytocin Neurons and Social Behavior
Penn State College of Medicine

A team of Penn State researchers is planning to create a new map of the brain that will establish a neural circuit diagram of oxytocin, a compound often associated with affection and emotional behavior.

Released: 24-May-2018 10:05 AM EDT
Study Finds Black Americans Face Education, Income Barriers to Healthy Behaviors
University of Iowa

A new University of Iowa–led study reports educational opportunities and higher incomes may be key to closing the health gap between most black and white Americans. Researchers say socioeconomic factors, mainly wealth and education, influenced the differences in health behaviors between the groups more than other variables.

Released: 24-May-2018 9:05 AM EDT
Active Shooter Detection Systems Could Lock Down Schools, Alert Emergency Responders in Seconds
Intrusion Technologies

Designed by former law enforcement and fire department personnel, active shooter detection and mitigation systems can automatically detect gunshots, aggressive speech, breaking glass, and other violent actions.

       
Released: 23-May-2018 1:05 PM EDT
New Book Focuses on Impact of Online Content Moderators
Cornell University

In his new book, “Custodians of the Internet: Platforms, Content Moderation, and the Hidden Decisions that Shape Social Media,” Tarleton Gillespie investigates how social media platforms police what we post online, and the large societal impact of these decisions.

   
Released: 23-May-2018 10:05 AM EDT
​Why an Upcoming Appointment Makes Us Less Productive
Ohio State University

You’ve got a full hour until your next meeting. But you probably won’t make the most of that time, new research suggests. In a series of eight studies, both in the lab and real life, researchers found that free time seems shorter to people when it comes before a task or appointment on their calendar.

Released: 22-May-2018 10:05 AM EDT
UNH Researchers Find Invasive Seaweed Makes Fish Change Their Behavior
University of New Hampshire

When it comes to finding protection and a safe feeding ground, fish rely on towering blades of seaweed, like kelp, to create a three-dimensional hiding space. Kelp forests have been shown to be one of the most productive systems in the ocean with high biodiversity and ecological function. However, in recent decades, many kelp habitats have been taken over and replaced by lower turf-dominated seaweed species. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found that this change in the seascape may impact the behavior of fish and could be leaving them less options for refuge and more vulnerable to predators.

18-May-2018 5:05 AM EDT
Facebook and Twitter Postings May Indicate a Drinking Problem
Research Society on Alcoholism

Despite the pervasive use of social media by young adults, little is known about whether, and how, social-media engagement influences their drinking patterns and risk of alcohol-related problems. Reviews thus far have looked at drinking relative to risky behaviors and advertising. This review examined associations between young adults’ alcohol-related social-media activity – defined as posting, liking, commenting on, and viewing of alcohol-related content on social media – and their drinking behaviors and alcohol-related problems.

   
Released: 22-May-2018 12:05 AM EDT
Income Inequality Is Changing the Nature of How Parents Invest in Their Kids, Widening Class Divides in the U.S.
American Sociological Association (ASA)

A new study shows that rising income inequality in the U.S. has led affluent parents to increase spending on their children, widening the gap in child investment along class lines. The results suggest that income inequality erodes the equality of opportunity by increasing gaps between children from a young age.

Released: 21-May-2018 5:05 PM EDT
What an All-Nighter Does to Your Blood
University of Colorado Boulder

A new study looking at proteins in the blood over the 24-hour-cycle found 30 that vary depending on what time it is, and more than 100 that are disrupted by a simulated night shift

Released: 21-May-2018 12:05 PM EDT
Bulldogs in Australia: CHARGE Syndrome Conference Takes MSU Faculty, Grad Students on Research Adventure
Mississippi State University

School psychology doctoral students in Mississippi State’s College of Education are participating in the 13th Biennial CHARGE Syndrome Conference in Melbourne, Australia. Accompanying the students is MSU Assistant Professor of School Psychology Kasee Stratton-Gadke, a leading researcher of CHARGE Syndrome and founder and director of MSU’s Bulldog CHARGE Syndrome Research Lab, one of only two in the world where researchers are uncovering breakthroughs in treatment and prevention and providing crucial support to parents, families and physicians caring for individuals with the rare genetic condition.

18-May-2018 2:00 PM EDT
Age-Related Racial Disparities in Suicide Rates Among Youth Ages 5 to 17 Years
Nationwide Children's Hospital

a new study from researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and collaborators published today in JAMA Pediatrics shows that racial disparities in suicide rates are age-related. Specifically, suicide rates for black children aged 5-12 were roughly two times higher than those of similarly-aged white children.

   
Released: 21-May-2018 10:05 AM EDT
One Year’s Losses for Child Sexual Abuse in U.S. Top $9 Billion, New Study Suggests
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

A new study at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the annual economic impact of child sexual abuse in the U.S. is far-reaching and costly: In 2015, the total economic burden was approximately $9.3 billion

18-May-2018 1:05 PM EDT
U.S. Poison Control Centers Receive 29 Calls Per Day About Children Exposed to ADHD Medications
Nationwide Children's Hospital

A new study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy and the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that there were more than 156,000 calls to US Poison Control Centers regarding exposures to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder medications among children and adolescents 19 years of age and younger from January 2000 through December 2014, averaging 200 calls each week or 29 calls per day.

16-May-2018 8:05 AM EDT
Little Difference Between Gun Owners, Non-Gun Owners on Key Gun Policies, Survey Finds
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

A new national public opinion survey from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds widespread agreement among gun owners and non-gun owners in their support for policies that restrict or regulate firearms.

   
14-May-2018 2:00 PM EDT
Study Shows Increase In Youth Suicide Attempts
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

The number of school-age children and adolescents hospitalized for suicidal thoughts or attempts has more than doubled since 2008, according to a new Vanderbilt-led study published today in Pediatrics.

Released: 15-May-2018 5:05 PM EDT
Neighborhood Is Key Factor in Recidivism Rates for Ex-Offenders in Arkansas
University of Arkansas at Little Rock

The neighborhood that a person recently released from prison lives in is a key factor in whether that person will eventually return to prison, according to a study by two professors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In their study, “There Goes the Neighborhood? Crime, Blight and Recidivism,” Tusty ten Bensel, associate professor of criminal justice, and Michael Craw, associate professor of public administration, examined whether ex-offenders being released into disadvantaged neighborhoods increased the likelihood of them returning to prison.

Released: 15-May-2018 10:05 AM EDT
Gun Safety Programs Do Not Prevent Children from Handling Firearms, Rutgers Study Finds
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Findings suggest that children do not retain safety skills when encountering a firearm in a real-world scenario

Released: 15-May-2018 10:05 AM EDT
Misperceptions of Deadlines Can Have Negative Influence On Daily Decision Making, Johns Hopkins Researcher Shows
Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School

Two recent studies by a Johns Hopkins Carey Business School researcher conclude that our misperceptions based on deadlines have a direct and negative impact on how we perform certain tasks. Both papers appeared recently in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Released: 15-May-2018 9:45 AM EDT
New Website Guides Users of APA Style Journal Article Reporting Standards
American Psychological Association (APA)

WASHINGTON -- The American Psychological Association has launched a website to guide researchers in psychology in using the APA Style Journal Article Reporting Standards, which are aimed at enhancing the quality of published research by promoting transparency and facilitating the assessment of rigor.

Released: 14-May-2018 12:05 PM EDT
It’s Not Enough for Companies to Say They're a Flexible Workplace
California State University (CSU) Chancellor's Office

Faculty researchers at CSU Channel Islands and Sacramento State find employees really want a work culture that supports true flexibility, engagement and work-life balance.

Released: 14-May-2018 10:05 AM EDT
Motivation to Move May Start with Being Mindful
Iowa State University

A meditation and stress reduction program may be as effective at getting people to move as structured exercise programs, according to a study led by an Iowa State researcher. Jacob Meyer is part of another study that found resistance training reduces symptoms of depression.

Released: 11-May-2018 4:05 PM EDT
During Disasters, Active Twitter Users Likely to Spread Falsehoods
University at Buffalo

During disasters, active Twitter users are likely to spread falsehoods. That’s according to new research that examined false tweets from Hurricane Sandy and the Boston Marathon bombing. Researchers found that 86 to 91 percent of active Twitter users spread misinformation, and that nearly as many did nothing to correct it.

Released: 10-May-2018 2:05 PM EDT
Rising Religious “None” Rates Linked to Conservative Christian Politics
University at Buffalo

A study published in April in the journal Political Research Quarterly examined states that enacted policies against same-sex marriage, and found a correlation between these activities and a rising number of people who do not affiliate with a specific religion.

Released: 10-May-2018 9:00 AM EDT
How Parents Cause Children’s Friendships to End
Florida Atlantic University

A new study reveals why childhood friendships fall apart and is the first to demonstrate that parents are an important source of these breakups. Researchers examined parenting styles as well as mother and father self-reported depressive symptoms to predict the occurrence and timing of best friendships breaking up from the start to the end of elementary school (grades one to six). Some of the findings were not what they expected.

Released: 9-May-2018 6:05 PM EDT
Creating a Compelling Character to Aid Latinas with Depression and Anxiety
UCLA School of Nursing

Imagining how a compelling story could ignite interest in a topic that is often considered taboo, MarySue Heilemann, professor at the UCLA School of Nursing, set out to create such a project to attract English-speaking Latinas with elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety. The idea was to make the story accessible via a smartphone or computer because it would be convenient and private. The goals were to create easy ways for women to engage in educational and therapeutic features to enhance their awareness that help for their symptoms exists; to boost their confidence that they could seek help for themselves; and to encourage them to connect with a hotline, clinic or other resources.

   
8-May-2018 9:15 AM EDT
Depression Linked to Memory Problems and Brain Aging
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Depression in older adults may be linked to memory problems, according to a study published in the May 9, 2018, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study also showed that older people with greater symptoms of depression may have structural differences in the brain compared to people without symptoms.

Released: 9-May-2018 2:30 PM EDT
Progress in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – Increased Understanding Points to New Approaches for PTSD Prevention and Treatment
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

Recent advances in scientific understanding of how posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops and persists may lead to more effective treatment and even prevention of this debilitating disorder, according to the May/June special issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry, published by Wolters Kluwer.

Released: 9-May-2018 12:05 PM EDT
Top-Ranked Reviewers Aren't the Top Influencers When It Comes to Online Sales, Study Says
Indiana University

Top-ranked reviewers on online retail sites such as Amazon.com may influence purchases, but a research study from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business finds that those who post reviews less often and more informally can be seen as more trustworthy and have more of an impact on sales.

Released: 9-May-2018 12:05 PM EDT
Motivational Interviewing More Effective Than Lectures
SUNY Buffalo State University

Michael “Mick” MacLean, associate professor of psychology, who has done extensive research on adolescent alcohol and substance use. Most recently, he’s implemented a strategy for reaching teens who are experiencing substance-related problems but are not yet addicted. Instead of berating them, trying to scare them, or using other well-worn tactics, MacLean suggests “motivational interviewing,” which he said has a significantly higher success rate.

Released: 9-May-2018 11:05 AM EDT
Virtual Reality Brings Real-Life Relief
Cornell University

Virtual reality offers tantalizing hope as a way to relieve the anguish of physical and mental stress. For those dealing with acute pain, it can form a distraction for the mind. And for those suffering from trauma, it helps relive triggering situations in a supported way.

7-May-2018 1:05 PM EDT
Surprising Finding About ‘Shock Therapy’ for Depression Suggests More Patients Should Try It Sooner
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Very few depression patients receive the treatment once known as ‘shock therapy’. But a new cost-effectiveness study suggests that the modern form of the approach, called ECT, should be made more available to patients who fail to get relief from two other types of treatment.

Released: 8-May-2018 1:30 PM EDT
Video Game Designer Says Medium Can Provide Outlet for Empathy, Dialogue and Increased Self-Awareness
DePaul University

Video games can be used for more than just entertainment, they can also help raise awareness for mental illness and diseases, said Doris C. Rusch, an associate professor of game design in DePaul University’s School of Design.

   
Released: 8-May-2018 10:20 AM EDT
Cell Phones at Summer Camp: Research Explores the Effects
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

New research from University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital delves into how digital media might affect the camp experience.

Released: 8-May-2018 7:05 AM EDT
Troubling Stats for Kids with Intellectual Disabilities
Ohio State University

By federal law passed in 1975, children with intellectual disabilities are supposed to spend as much time as possible in general education classrooms.But a new study suggests that progress toward that goal has stalled.

Released: 7-May-2018 1:05 PM EDT
How Recent Economy Kept Black, White Young Adults From Leaving Nest
 Johns Hopkins University

Economic tumult in the early 2000s persuaded many young people to keep living with their parents, but the reasons why differ starkly by race, a study concludes.

Released: 7-May-2018 12:05 PM EDT
Oversharing Can Have Consequences, Research Says
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Researcher finds that relationships are at risk when people fail to set expectations about the sharing of private information.

Released: 7-May-2018 10:20 AM EDT
'Productive Aging' Is Key to Addressing the Aging Workforce
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

With unprecedented demographic trends leading to an aging workforce, a new emphasis on productive aging is needed to keep US workers of all generations as healthy and productive as possible, according to an article in the May Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Released: 7-May-2018 10:05 AM EDT
UF/IFAS Experts: Skip the Roses and Go Straight for the Orchids on Mother’s Day
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

“Between a bouquet that lasts one or two weeks at most and an orchid that can stay in bloom for three months and live up for 15 years or longer, orchids are definitely a winner for any mom’s heart,” said UF/IFAS environmental horticulture professor Wagner Vendrame, an orchid expert.

Released: 7-May-2018 8:00 AM EDT
Brain Activity, Reactivity Help Explain Diabetics’ Negative Feelings and Risk for Depression
Iowa State University

For millions of Americans who are obese and living with diabetes, feelings of sadness, anger and anxiety are often part of daily life. A new Iowa State University study suggests those negative feelings may stem from problems regulating blood sugar levels that influence emotional response in the brain.



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