Editor's Choice
Weighing the Risks
In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Cognitive Psychology, a team of researchers led by Toshihiro Wakebe of the University of Tokyo investigated the role of risk aversion in information-gathering behavior. ... More>
Language That Reinforces Inequality
A recent study in the European Journal of Social Psychology addresses how language can reinforce stereotypes. ... More>
Study: False Memory Increases in Nonhabitual Consumers of Caffeine
The consumption of as little as 100 mg of caffeine elicits reliable changes in arousal and, in turn, false memories in individuals who do not habitually consume caffeine, according to a new study. ... More>
Seeing and Imagining Are Different in the Brain
In an article published in the Journal of Cognitive Psychology, William L. Thompson adds to our understanding of visual perception by contrasting visual attention with visual mental imagery. ... More>
A Long-Term Approach to Studying Antisocial Behavior
A longitudinal study of Estonian adolescents that was recently published in the European Journal of Personality may be an important addition to the literature on antisocial behavior. ... More>
Everyone Judges Sexy Women — but Why?
“Are sexualized women seen as complete human beings?” — and if not, why? A group of psychological scientists led by Jeroen Vaes of the University of Padova, Italy, tried to answer these questions by studying volunteers’ reactions to photographs. ... More>
Police Prejudice Is Not What You Think
A team of psychological scientists led by Juliette Gatto of Blaise Pascal University, France, took a close look at prejudice in new police recruits, officers with a year of training, and a control group from the general population. They discovered unexpected nuances. ... More>
What Is Logical Isn’t Always True
Edward J. N. Stupple and colleagues propose a model in Journal of Cognitive Psychology to explain a logic conundrum. ... More>
Certain Kinds of Passion Can Take a Toll on Self-Esteem
The findings from a recent study in the European Journal of Social Psychology suggest that not all passions are created equal; some kinds of passion may even be harmful to your health. ... More>
The Rocky Road to a Sense of Self
A group of researchers in the Netherlands has fleshed out some of the details about relationships among identity, self, and mental health in young adolescents. ... More>
Walking: Good for More than Your Waistline
Memory is so important in our daily lives, and it can be frustrating (not to mention embarrassing) when we have trouble recalling information. But can we improve our memories? ... More>
Donate to Help? Only if Nature Caused the Disaster
The world has had a tough couple of years with wars, hurricanes, oil spills, and floods. Donations are requested, but how likely are you to donate? ... More>
Warning: This Face Is Dangerous
If you’re a little, soft-spoken guy, duking it out mano-a-mano with a tough, masculine type probably isn’t in your best interest — and a fair amount of research on threat perception and dominance explores why men perceive (and presumably avoid) threats differently. But what if you’re a little, soft-spoken gal? ... More>
Heritability in the Era of Molecular Genetics
Today it seems to be common knowledge that most behavioral and psychological traits have a heritable genetic component. But what does it really mean when a study says that the heritability of Trait X is 46%? Do you know? Do researchers know? ... More>
Writing Tip: Better “You” Than “I”
Do readers responded differently to stories depending upon whether they are narrated from the perspective of ‘‘you’’ or ‘‘I’’? Recent research published in the Journal of Cognitive Psychology offers some tips for writers who want to impact their readers. ... More>
Act Your Age
There is no denying that in Western society, youth is valued. It is estimated that in 2008, more than £16 billion was spent on anti-aging products the United Kingdom. In 2006, Americans spent over $45 billion on cosmetics, plastic surgery, and hormone therapy. Despite this massive effort to combat aging, there is little research on the social consequences of attempting to look younger.... More>
Your Brain on Injustice
In a recent article published in the European Journal of Personality, Anna Baumert and her coauthors suggested justice-sensitive people develop unique conceptions of injustice that influence their thoughts about justice.... More>
Beauty in the Brain of the Beholder
Why is it that what one art critic considers a masterpiece looks like a child’s finger painting to someone else? Psychological scientists are looking for answers by analyzing art, society, More>
Insight on Out-of-Body Experiences
When you hear “out-of-body experience,” you probably think of hallucinations caused by drugs or a mental instability, but a new study published in Elsevier’s Cortex suggests that out-of-body experiences (OBEs) occur in nonclinical populations as well.... More>
