Feature Channels: Behavioral Science

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Released: 2-Apr-2021 10:55 AM EDT
Consumer resistance to sustainability interventions
American Marketing Association (AMA)

Researchers from University of Queensland, University of Melbourne, and Universidad Finis Terrae published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that studies consumer resistance to a nationwide plastic bag ban implemented in Chile in 2019.

31-Mar-2021 3:55 PM EDT
“Why Did You Drink Yesterday?” Young Adults’ Drinking Intensity is Associated with Their Motives for Drinking on that Day
Research Society on Alcoholism

The amount of alcohol an individual consumes on a given day, and the consequences of that drinking, vary according to their motives for drinking. The findings are from a study among young adults reported in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. ‘High-intensity’ drinking, defined as 8+ drinks for women or 10+ drinks for men (i.e. twice the binge-drinking threshold), is a particularly risky level of drinking that is common among young adults. Because individuals may engage in high-intensity drinking on some days but not others, identifying risk factors for high-intensity drinking on a given day is critical for developing real-time interventions to reduce harm. Drinking motives – a person’s reasons for using alcohol – are known to be linked to alcohol use at a particular time, and also vary across drinking days. Certain motives, for example those related to enjoying the feeling of intoxication or enhancing the fun of a gathering, have been previously linked to higher alcohol con

   
Released: 1-Apr-2021 4:10 PM EDT
CDC, UW study finds significant vaccine distrust within incarcerated populations, increasing risks
University of Washington

Fewer than half of inmates in jails and prisons surveyed in a study by the CDC and University of Washington said they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine, while the majority either said they wanted to wait before getting the vaccine or would refuse one.

Released: 1-Apr-2021 3:15 PM EDT
Multilingual people have an advantage over those fluent in only two languages
University of Tokyo

Multilingual people have trained their brains to learn languages, making it easier to acquire more new languages after mastering a second or third.

Released: 1-Apr-2021 2:50 PM EDT
Poor judgment of autistic adults
Flinders University

Autistic adults can be wrongly perceived as deceptive and lacking credibility, Flinders University researchers say, with this working against many caught in the legal system.

Released: 1-Apr-2021 2:45 PM EDT
Developmental Scientists Gather Virtually to Present Child Development Research
Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)

The Society for Research in Child Development will hold its Biennial Meeting virtually April 7 – April 9, 2021. The meeting brings together thousands of developmental scientists from around the world to present and learn about the latest research in child development. Attendance is complimentary to members of the media.

   
Released: 1-Apr-2021 8:30 AM EDT
VIDEO and TRANSCRIPT: The Psychological Science of Racism Expert Panel
Newswise

Panelists will discuss the psychological science of how racist attitudes and behaviors are formed, and how they can be influencedd, using science.

Released: 31-Mar-2021 5:15 PM EDT
Not Prosecuting Misdemeanors Reduces Likelihood of Re-arrest, New Study Finds
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Defendants prosecuted for non-violent misdemeanors such as motor vehicle, drug and disorder/theft charges have substantially higher risks of future arrest and prosecution than those not charged, according to a new Rutgers University-New Brunswick report.

Released: 31-Mar-2021 8:15 AM EDT
Covering a Pandemic: University of Kentucky Study Explores Impact of COVID-19 on Journalists
University of Kentucky

To learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on TV journalists, researchers in the College of Social Work (CoSW) Self-Care Lab at the University of Kentucky conducted a national study.

Released: 30-Mar-2021 4:15 PM EDT
How to talk to people about climate change
University of British Columbia

As our planet warms, seas rise and catastrophic weather events become more frequent, action on climate change has never been more important.

   
Released: 30-Mar-2021 2:30 PM EDT
Infants' language skills more advanced than first words suggest
University of Edinburgh

Babies can recognise combinations of words even before they have uttered their first word, a study suggests, challenging ideas of how children learn language.

   
Released: 30-Mar-2021 12:55 PM EDT
How to make people follow restrictions without appealing to fear
Aarhus University

Making people fear the coronavirus may motivate us to wash our hands, keep our distance and wear a face mask.

Released: 30-Mar-2021 11:50 AM EDT
Growing appetite for meat alternatives in Brussels
University of Bath

Increasing numbers of people in Belgium are turning away from meat in favour of plant-based alternatives, according to new research from psychologists at the University of Bath, in collaboration with Belgian animal welfare organisation GAIA.

Released: 30-Mar-2021 11:40 AM EDT
Social media addiction linked to cyberbullying
University of Georgia

New research suggests that these increased hours spent online may be associated with cyberbullying behaviors. According to a study by the University of Georgia, higher social media addiction scores, more hours spent online, and identifying as male significantly predicted cyberbullying perpetration in adolescents.

Released: 30-Mar-2021 9:35 AM EDT
Degrees of happiness? Formal education does not lead to greater job satisfaction, study shows
University of Notre Dame

There is almost no relationship between formal educational attainment and job satisfaction, according to new Notre Dame research.

   
26-Mar-2021 8:05 AM EDT
More exercise, fewer screens:New Australian guidelines for kids in OSHC
University of South Australia

Groundbreaking research from the University of South Australia has delivered world-first national-level guidelines to better inform children’s physical activity and screen time in Outside School Hours Care (OSHC).

Released: 29-Mar-2021 6:05 PM EDT
Pandemic causes shift in food norms
University of Delaware

Researchers monitored the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted food purchasing, pantry management and food waste and shaped our concerns about environmental regulatory changes and virus transmission. They found that the food system is a lot more fragile than previously thought.

   
Released: 29-Mar-2021 3:55 PM EDT
Flagging coronavirus misinformation tweets changes user behaviors, UAH research shows
University of Alabama Huntsville

When Twitter flags tweets containing coronavirus misinformation, that really does affect the degree of validity most people ascribe to those messages, says new research based on a novel branching survey by three professors at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System.

Released: 26-Mar-2021 12:50 PM EDT
Twin Study Shows Why Physical Punishment Leads to Child Behavior Problems
University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

Harsh parenting practices, not genetics, are linked to higher levels of behavior problems in children, according to a new study in the March 2021 volume of Psychological Science, which studied pairs of twins whose parents disciplined them differently.

Released: 25-Mar-2021 11:35 AM EDT
Does selfishness evolve? Ask a cannibal
Rice University

One of nature's most prolific cannibals could be hiding in your pantry, and biologists have used it to show how social structure affects the evolution of selfish behavior.

   
Released: 24-Mar-2021 4:45 PM EDT
During the first wave of coronavirus pandemic older adults left home mainly for physical activity
Jyvaskylan Yliopisto (University of Jyvaeskylae)

In spring 2020, when the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic hit Finland, older adults drastically reduced their out-of-home activities.

   
Released: 24-Mar-2021 2:35 PM EDT
Shame of contracting Covid-19 can prevent individuals declaring infection to authorities
University of Kent

New research from the University of Kent and Leeds Beckett University has found that feelings of shame and stigmatisation at the idea of contracting Covid-19 are linked to lower compliance of social distancing and the likelihood of reporting infection to authorities and potential contacts in Italy, South Korea and the USA.

   
Released: 23-Mar-2021 2:15 PM EDT
Babies prefer baby talk, whether they're learning one language or two
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

It can be hard to resist lapsing into an exaggerated, singsong tone when you talk to a cute baby.

   
Released: 23-Mar-2021 11:20 AM EDT
Study Explores How Sexism Within Religious Congregations Shapes Women’s Health
American Sociological Association (ASA)

A new study has found that sexism in religious institutions can limit the health benefits of religious participation for women.

Released: 23-Mar-2021 11:10 AM EDT
A real-life superhero, powered by social work
West Virginia University - Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Social work student Matthew Witt knew early in his college career that he wanted to dedicate his life to helping people navigate through challenges. As an intern with the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, Witt has tracked proposed bills during the 2021 session of the West Virginia State Legislature.

19-Mar-2021 1:50 PM EDT
College Students’ Alcohol Use Fell, Not Rose, During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic
Research Society on Alcoholism

College students’ alcohol consumption fell during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, notwithstanding concerns that the pandemic may drive up the risk of problematic drinking, according to new studies in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. The findings point to changing living conditions as a key influence, and a shift from heavy drinking with peers to lighter drinking with families. College students’ drinking is a longstanding public health concern in the US and international research on the effects of the pandemic has had mixed findings. Some studies have highlighted the drinking risks associated with pandemic stressors, disruptions, and deprivations, and increased depression, anxiety, and loneliness among college students. On the other hand, the closure of liquor stores and bars, the cancellation of events, and financial limitations may be protective against problematic drinking. Understanding how students’ alcohol use changed during the pandemic, and the reasons behind th

     
Released: 23-Mar-2021 8:30 AM EDT
Why Are Young Adults Having Less Casual Sex?
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Casual sex is on the decline for both young men and women, according to a Rutgers University-New Brunswick study that found less alcohol consumption among both genders is a major reason while playing video games and living at home with parents are another—but only for men.

Released: 22-Mar-2021 5:50 PM EDT
Income drives the economy, not prices
Dartmouth College

Politicians and business leaders often make claims about why certain sectors in the economy are shrinking, such as the decline in U.S. manufacturing is due to robotics or trade with China.

Released: 22-Mar-2021 5:50 PM EDT
Human fondness, faith in machines grows during pandemic
University of Southern California (USC)

People are not very nice to machines. The disdain goes beyond the slot machine that emptied your wallet, a dispenser that failed to deliver a Coke or a navigation system that took you on an unwanted detour.

   
Released: 22-Mar-2021 5:30 PM EDT
Women missing out on workplace mentoring post #MeToo
RMIT University

It's well known that mentoring opportunities are critical for development and career advancement, and are associated with greater job satisfaction and increased earnings and promotions.

Released: 22-Mar-2021 10:00 AM EDT
Widening political rift in U.S. may threaten science, medicine
Washington University in St. Louis

Public participation is critical to the success of medical research. Yet recruiting volunteers for trials is increasingly challenging. New Washington University research suggests the widening ideological gap in the U.S. may be to blame.

     
Released: 22-Mar-2021 8:30 AM EDT
Social and Emotional Learning Crucial to Valued Outcomes, Rutgers Expert Says
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Studies show that social and emotional learning could reduce school violence and harassment, while improving attendance, graduation rates and perceptions of school climate. But Maurice Elias, a professor of psychology and director of the Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Developmental Lab, says in order for that to occur, social and emotional learning (SEL) must become the norm in schools nationwide.

18-Mar-2021 11:50 AM EDT
“Hunger hormone” ghrelin affects monetary decision making
Endocrine Society

Higher levels of the stomach-derived hormone ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, predict a greater preference for smaller immediate monetary rewards over larger delayed financial rewards, a new study finds. The study results will be presented at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting.

Released: 19-Mar-2021 5:20 PM EDT
Your Questions, Answered: Examining Mistrust and Vaccines
University of California San Diego

On Feb. 22, the University of California San Diego brought together a panel of industry experts and esteemed faculty to kick off the university’s “Evenings of Nonconventional Wisdom” online event series hosted in celebration of the university's 60th anniversary. To continue the timely dialogue around COVID-19 and vaccines, we reached back out to a few of the event panelists plus a leader from UC San Diego’s Return to Learn Program Dr. Robert “Chip” Schooley to answer questions submitted by the audience.

   
Released: 19-Mar-2021 2:50 PM EDT
Foreign-born run greater risk of workplace bullying
Linkoping University

The risk of being bullied at work is twice as high if you were born abroad. And if you come from a culture that is culturally dissimilar to Sweden's, the risk is even higher.

Released: 19-Mar-2021 2:30 PM EDT
Virtual reality could help to reduce pain for people with nerve injuries
University of Plymouth

We all feel physical pain in different ways, but people with nerve injuries often have a dysfunctional pain suppression system, making them particularly prone to discomfort.

Released: 19-Mar-2021 11:50 AM EDT
New Report: Vaccine Hesitancy and Acceptance Among Parents
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

A new report shows parents are more vaccine hesitant and resistant than non-parents (in terms of willingness to vaccinate themselves) across all socioeconomic and demographic groups compared. This pattern is largely driven by younger mothers, who are far more vaccine resistant than younger women who are not mothers. Older parents and fathers show little difference from their non-parent peers.

   
Released: 18-Mar-2021 9:05 PM EDT
Wine consumption patterns relatively stable under COVID
University of Adelaide

Wine consumers have reported that their consumption hasn’t changed much despite the stresses of lockdown. The results from a survey by a team of experts led by the University of Adelaide show patterns of wine consumption that also indicate a trend towards buying wine direct from producers.

Released: 18-Mar-2021 4:05 PM EDT
Self-compassion can alleviate feelings of loneliness due to remote work, study finds
Indiana University

A new study led by a psychology researcher at IUPUI has found evidence that feelings of 'work loneliness' during the pandemic are associated with greater depression -- and also that self-compassion seems to mitigate these negative effects.

Released: 18-Mar-2021 3:05 PM EDT
Women in cities less likely to have children
Oxford University Press

A new study in Behavioral Ecology, published by Oxford University Press, finds that women are less likely to procreate in urban areas that have a higher percentage of females than males in the population.

Released: 18-Mar-2021 1:25 PM EDT
COVID-19 denial depends on a population's trust in social institutions
National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE)

An international team of scholars studied how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Europeans' stress levels and their trust in their national governments and the healthcare systems.

Released: 17-Mar-2021 3:15 PM EDT
Young adults in a 20-year-long study shed light on what matters for mental health of ethnic diverse youth
Elsevier

A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), published by Elsevier, reports on the young adult assessment of the now 20-year longitudinal Boricua Youth Study (BYS), a large cohort that brings much needed insight about development and mental health of children from diverse ethnic background growing up in disadvantaged contexts.

   
Released: 17-Mar-2021 2:10 PM EDT
The role of adult playfulness in romantic life
Wiley

While play and playfulness have been studied well in children, their structure and consequences are understudied in adults. A new article published in Social and Personality Psychology Compass highlights available research on this topic and also examines why playfulness is important in romantic relationships.

Released: 17-Mar-2021 10:35 AM EDT
From Foster Care to Medical School, Aleksandra Hussain Overcomes Obstacles in Her Pursuit of Helping Others
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School first-year student Aleksandra Hussain spent years in the foster-care system after her parents, who were immigrants, were unable to return to the United States. Aleksandra took on the responsibility of caring for herself and her sister. This experience helped her become more focused on achieving something better for herself and she pursued a career in medicine, striving to care for underserved communities.

Released: 16-Mar-2021 2:10 PM EDT
Health ads in users’ customized online sites may evoke negative reactions
Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences

Tweaking the look of a social media profile may subtly alter a person’s reaction to the health messages that appear on that site, according to researchers. They add that these reactions could influence whether the users heed the advice of those messages.

Released: 16-Mar-2021 1:45 PM EDT
Tired at the Office? Take a Quick Break. Your Work Will Benefit.
North Carolina State University

Recent research shows that people are more likely to take “microbreaks” at work on days when they’re tired – but that’s not a bad thing. The researchers found microbreaks help tired employees engage with their work better over the course of the day.

Released: 16-Mar-2021 10:15 AM EDT
Strategic social work
West Virginia University - Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Clendenin native Michelle Richmond arrived at WVU with a lofty goal: to improve the human condition for all West Virginians. Eventually, that led her to social work. Now, she is working with Legal Aid of West Virginia on its strategic plan to improve statewide community access to legal services



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