Psychology Samurai

When Did We Become Mentally Modern?

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:36:59 -0600

Our ability to think in symbols — the notion that objects can represent ideas — is one of the key traits that make us human. We weren’t always symbolic thinkers, and scientists are trying to figure out when our minds evolved this ability.

‘The Friend of My Enemy Is My Enemy’: Virtual Universe Study Proves 80-Year-Old Theory on How Humans Interact

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:44:58 -0600

‘The Friend of My Enemy Is My Enemy’: Virtual Universe Study Proves 80-Year-Old Theory on How Humans Interact:

I’m not overly interested in the study itself, but rather the method used.

A new study analyzing interactions between players in a virtual universe game has for the first time provided large-scale evidence to prove an 80 year old psychological theory called Structural Balance Theory. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that individuals tend to avoid stress-causing relationships when they develop a society, resulting in more stable social networks.

Predicting Relationship Breakups With a Word-Association Task

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 06:16:44 -0600

Predicting Relationship Breakups With a Word-Association Task:

There seems to be an IAT for everything these days.

Here’s a way to tell a romantic relationship is going to fall apart: find out what people really think about their partners. The researchers in a new study used a so-called implicit task, which shows how people automatically respond to words — in this case, whether they find it easier to link words referring to their partner to words with pleasant or unpleasant meanings.

Does Darth Vader meet the diagnostic criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder?

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:49:18 -0600

Does Darth Vader meet the diagnostic criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder?

Female Teachers’ Math Anxiety Negatively Affects Female Students

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:48:40 -0600

Female Teachers’ Math Anxiety Negatively Affects Female Students

Young Men More Vulnerable to Relationship Ups and Downs Than Women

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:47:56 -0600

Young Men More Vulnerable to Relationship Ups and Downs Than Women:

Contrary to popular belief, the ups and downs of romantic relationships have a greater effect on the mental health of young men than women, according to a new study by a Wake Forest University sociology professor.

Contrary to Popular Models, Sugar Is Not Burned by Self-Control Tasks

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:03:40 -0600

This may or may not be good for my research: Contradicting a popular model of self-control, a University of Pennsylvania psychologist says the data from a 2007 study argues against the idea that glucose is the resource used to manage self control and that humans rely on this energy source for will power.

If self-control is not reliant on glucose, my nonunitary model of executive functioning functions much better.

Personality Predicts Political Preferences

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:23:16 -0600

Personality Predicts Political Preferences:

Researchers at UofT have shown that the psychological concern for compassion and equality is associated with a liberal mindset, while the concern for order and respect of social norms is associated with a conservative mindset.

Teenagers in Lesbian Families: Healthy and Happy

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:02:41 -0600

Teenagers in Lesbian Families: Healthy and Happy:

Blasphemy: Teenage children of lesbian parents in the United States exhibit healthy psychological development and have fewer behavioral problems than peers who grow up in heterosexual families

Secondhand Smoke Associated With Psychiatric Distress, Illness

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:28:30 -0600

Secondhand Smoke Associated With Psychiatric Distress, Illness:

Exposure to secondhand smoke appears to be associated with psychological distress and the risk of future psychiatric hospitalization among healthy adults, according to a report posted online that will appear in the August print issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

People reestablish trust only when they believe in change

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:25:11 -0600

People reestablish trust only when they believe in change:

Trust is crucial in any close relationship. When you make plans with a friend, you have to trust that he will show up at the appointed place at the appointed time. When you make a business deal with someone, you have to trust that she will follow through with her end of the bargain. Not everyone lives up to their end of every bargain, though. What factors determine whether you will trust someone again?

A Sense of Humor Helps Keep You Healthy Until Retirement Age

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:47:57 -0600

A Sense of Humor Helps Keep You Healthy Until Retirement Age:

A sense of humor helps to keep people healthy and increases their chances of reaching retirement age. But after the age of 70, the health benefits of humor decrease, researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have found.

Interracial marriages at an all-time high, study says

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:56:37 -0600

Interracial marriages at an all-time high, study says:

Some seemingly good news for once. If the number interracial marriages can be used as some kind of barometer for race relations and cultural assimilation, then we are doing better than ever. The United States has the second highest rate of interracial next to Brazil.

Archaeo-alcohology

Sat, 29 May 2010 21:33:00 -0600

Archaeo-alcohology:

The Edible Geography blog has an amusing piece about Patrick McGovern, the “Indiana Jones of Ancient Ales, Wines, and Extreme Beverages,” and his role in the production of a 3400-year-old Mesoamerican beer recreated from a chemical analysis of pottery fragments.Tasty.

Empathy: College Students Don't Have as Much as They Used To, Study Finds

Sat, 29 May 2010 14:26:46 -0600

Empathy: College Students Don't Have as Much as They Used To, Study Finds:

Today’s college students are not as empathetic as college students of the 1980s and ’90s, a University of Michigan study shows.

Video Gamers Can Control Dreams, Study Suggests

Thu, 27 May 2010 07:16:49 -0600

Video Gamers Can Control Dreams, Study Suggests:

Playing video games before bedtime may give people an unusual level of awareness and control in their dreams, LiveScience has learned. Maybe that’s why I dreamed that I was a level 56 wizard with a staff of much exploding last night.

Defendant's Gender Affects Length of Sentence

Wed, 26 May 2010 21:37:11 -0600

Defendant's Gender Affects Length of Sentence:

A study of 300 simulated court cases shows that experienced judges, lay assessors, prosecutors, police officers, and lawyers make decisions and convict defendants differently depending on whether they are men or women and what the defendant looks like. Eyewitnesses to crimes are also affected by these factors. This is especially pronounced if there is an extended period of time separating the crime and the testimony. This is what Angela S. Ahola, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, shows in her dissertation.

In the Green of Health: Just 5 Minutes of 'Green Exercise' Optimal for Good Mental Health

Tue, 25 May 2010 16:39:20 -0600

In the Green of Health: Just 5 Minutes of 'Green Exercise' Optimal for Good Mental Health:

Just another reason I dislike gyms. A new study shows that exercising in outdoor “green” areas boots long term health. In addition, the presence of water, “blue,” only increases these effects. Don’t worry lazy people. These effects can be seen after only 5 minutes of green exercise. But come on, people. Let’s try to be outdoors a bit longer than that.

Is it more fun to be a scientist or an artist?

Fri, 21 May 2010 10:48:20 -0600

Is it more fun to be a scientist or an artist?

Annoyed by cellphones? Scientists explain why

Fri, 21 May 2010 03:14:59 -0600

Annoyed by cellphones? Scientists explain why:

Ever wonder why overhearing a cellphone conversation is so annoying? American researchers think they have found the answer.