Psychology

Study: Kids Will Rethink How Objects Work To Over-Imitate Adult Behavior

Children learn by imitating adults—so much so that they will rethink how an object works if they observe an adult taking unnecessary steps when using that object, according to a Yale study today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Even whe ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 5 2007 - 1:05pm

Stressed? You Will Be Next Monday!

LONDON, December 6 /PRNewswire/-- According to the results of a recent survey, if the festive pressures haven't got to you already, they will do next Monday- it's officially the most stressful day of the year. An independent survey, commissioned ...

Article - Anna Ohlden - Dec 6 2007 - 11:37am

Everyday Hedonics

Andrew Gelman: You’d think we prefer an upward spike in pleasure — we’re happier for a while, then return to normal — to a downward one, but the evidence isn’t clear. Seth: I know someone who woke himself up so he could enjoy falling asleep. Andrew: Reall ...

Article - Seth Roberts - Dec 6 2007 - 8:38am

Psychiatrists Are Least Religious But Most Interested In Patients' Religion

Although psychiatrists are among the least religious physicians, they seem to be the most interested in the religious and spiritual dimensions of their patients, according to survey data published in the December issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 11 2007 - 4:30am

Synaesthesia: Smelling A Sound Or Hearing A Color

One person out of every thousand has synaesthesia, a psychological phenomenon in which they can smell a sound or hear a color. Most of these people are not aware they are synaesthetes and feel certain about the way they perceive things: they think the way ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 25 2007 - 11:30am

Adenosine Central To Effectiveness Of Deep Brain Stimulation

A brain chemical that makes us sleepy also appears to play a central role in the success of deep brain stimulation to ease symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders. The surprising finding is outlined in a paper published in N ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 24 2007 - 2:56am

COMT Gene And Cognitive Clues To Alcohol Addiction

People with clinical addictions know first-hand the ravages the disease can take on almost every aspect of their lives. So why do they continue addictive behaviors, even after a period of peaceable abstinence? Some answers appear rooted in regions of the b ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 26 2007 - 11:38am

Some Subliminal Surprises- National Flag Symbols Make People More Moderate

'Flag waving' is often considered a metaphor for stirring up the public towards adopting a more nationalistic, generally hard-line stance. ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 27 2007 - 12:33pm

Study: In Uncontrollable Situations, Being Alone Is Better

If you're going to experience a period of helplessness, it's best to be alone. New research at the University of Haifa found that laboratory rats that were on their own when exposed to uncontrollable conditions, which create a feeling of helpless ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 30 2007 - 2:35pm

Can Anti-Depressants Cause Suicide?

Many parents have said yes. David Healy, a Scottish psychiatrist, prompted by those stories, did a small experiment in which undepressed persons took anti-depressants. About 10% of them started having suicidal thoughts. ...

Article - Seth Roberts - Jan 1 2008 - 2:30pm