Psychology

Autistic Kids Develop More Positive Social Behaviors Around Animals Than Toys

The presence of an animal can significantly increase positive social behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to a new paper. ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 27 2013 - 6:43pm

That Shouldn't Happen: The Just World Fallacy and Autism

Everyday, we hear about tragedies, some that hit too close to home for comfort, and our reactions range from "That just shouldn't happen!" to the belief that when it does happen, it must be someone's fault. ...

Blog Post - Kim Wombles - Feb 28 2013 - 7:56am

Video Games May Cause Frustration- And Frustrated People Are Attracted To Video Games

Video games can be difficult, even frustrating at the harder levels. That is part of their appeal. It turns out that frustrated people are attracted to video games also. The temptation to steal or cheat is greater if the risk of being caught is low and a ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 11 2013 - 2:57pm

Avoiding Scary Situations Leads To More Anxiety In Kids, Not Less

Familiarity with the unknown, even the scary unknown, reduces anxiety about everyday life, according to surveys of over 800 children ages 8 to 17 conducted by the  Mayo Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology. The scholars developed two eight-quest ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 13 2013 - 10:23am

Gambling Is An Evolutionary Function, Say Psychologists

A new psychology paper evolution and basic survival techniques adapted by early humans influence the decisions gamblers make when placing bets.  So if current counseling options for problem gamblers don't work, we can blame biology. The scholars exam ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 18 2013 - 11:44am

Beauty And Attractiveness

I recently came across some articles, again, that were focusing on human adaptive behaviors regarding our concept of beauty and attractiveness.  All manner of considerations are mentioned from facial symmetry to female hip-to-waist ratios, etc. However, I ...

Article - Gerhard Adam - Mar 21 2013 - 9:06am

On Killing

I recently watched a program on the Science Channel entitled " Human Nature: Born to Kill ".  In this episode, part of the objective was to explore humans killing other humans.  Of course, the usual array of topics were raised, from evolutionary ...

Article - Gerhard Adam - Apr 2 2013 - 1:00am

"Health Halo"- Organic Labels Bias Consumer Perception

"Organic" food and products is a $29 billion big business and its marketing power is very strong: studies have shown that this simple label can lead us to think that a food is healthier, what is known as the 'health halo effect'.  Mark ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 1 2013 - 12:40pm

Neuroscientists Create 'Phantom Limb' Sensation- In Non-Amputees

Almost everyone who has had an arm or leg amputated experiences a phantom limb, a vivid sensation that the missing limb is still present, like having an itch. Neuroscientists at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have shown that it isn't just for am ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 11 2013 - 10:53am

Structual Balance: Rock Hyrax Has Frenemies Too

Humans navigate complex social situations in deciding who to befriend or to abandon- a "frenemy" is someone who is both friend and enemy while the old military saying is that 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'. Animal social networks ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 22 2013 - 1:24pm