7/2/09- The Problem with Self-Help Books: Study shows the negative side to positive self-statements

In times of doubt and uncertainty, many Americans turn to self-help books in search of encouragement, guidance and self-affirmation. The positive self-statements suggested in these books, such as "I am a lovable person" or "I will succeed," are designed to lift a person's low self-esteem and push them into positive action.Read More

7/2/09- In the Eye of the Storm: Why some people stayed behind

Hurricane Katrina was the largest natural disaster in U.S. history, claiming the lives of more than 1,800 victims and causing well over $100 billion in damage along the Gulf Coast. The 2005 storm breached every levee in New Orleans, flooding almost the entire city as well as the neighboring parishes. Yet a surprising number of people stayed behind and rode out the storm.Read More

6/12/09- Don't Stand So Close to Me: Proximity Defines How We Think of Contagion

We judge probability and make risk judgments all the time, such as when we try new products or consider which stocks to trade. It would seem that our decisions would be rational and based on concrete factors; however, we are not always so pragmatic. Read More

6/3/09- Breaking the Norm: Experiment makes men and women equally picky when selecting a mate

When it comes to dating, are women really choosier than men? The abundance of research on this subject leads us to believe that they are, but a study forthcoming in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, reports evidence to the contrary. Read More

5/5/09- Children as young as 19 months understand different dialects

We are surrounded by a multitude of different accents every day. Even when a speaker of another English dialect pronounces words differently than we do, we are typically able to recognize their words.Read More

5/5/09- New Pitt Study on Alcohol Reveals Drinkers Not Only Zone Out--But Also Are Unaware That They Do

A new study out of the University of Pittsburgh suggests that a moderate dose of alcohol increases a person's mind wandering, while at the same time reducing the likelihood of noticing that one's mind has wandered.Read More

4/27/09- Study Suggests Left-Side Bias in Visual Expertise

Facial recognition is not as automatic as it may seem. Researchers have identified specific areas in the brain devoted solely to picking out faces among other objects we encounter.Read More

4/27/09- Study Suggests Buddhist Deity Meditation Temporarily Augments Visuospatial Abilities

Meditation has been practiced for centuries, as a way to calm the soul and bring about inner peace. Read More

4/22/09- Living in History: How Some Historical Events Shape Our Memory

If you are resident of New Orleans, how would you describe personal events that occurred shortly before August 2005? Would you refer to them as happening "back in July of 2005" or would you describe them as happening "just before Hurricane Katrina"?Read More

4/22/09- The Price of Pain and the Value of Suffering

During these trying financial times, the cost of healthcare and how much we are willing to pay for it is at the top of our economic concerns. The financial value of pain has a wide ranging influence, affecting drug prices and injury compensation.Read More

4/22/09- Financial Barriers to Attending College Affect Academic Goals in Young Students

Most young students do not enjoy homework. However, after being told that good grades will help them get into college and lead to a better life, most students eventually buckle down and start studying. But what if college is not an option?Read More

4/14/09- Eye Spy: Study Reveals We Seek New Targets During Visual Search, But Not During Other Visual Behaviors

When we look at a scene in front of us, we need to focus on the important items and be able to ignore distracting elements. Read More

4/14/09- I Feel Like a Different Person: Study Suggests Link Between How We Feel, Our Culture, and How We Behave

Scientists have long been interested in the interplay of emotions and identity, and some have recently focused on cultural identity. One's heritage would seem to be especially stable and impervious to change, simply because it's been passed down generation after generation and is deeply ingrained in the collective psyche.Read More

4/14/09- Imagine This: Study Suggests Power of Imagination is More Than Just a Metaphor

We've heard it before: "Imagine yourself passing the exam or scoring a goal and it will happen."Read More

4/6/09- You Wear Me Out: Thinking of Others Causes Lapses in Our Self-Control

Exerting self-control is exhausting. In fact, using self-control in one situation impairs our ability to use self-control in subsequent, even unrelated, situations. What about thinking of other people exerting self-control? Read More

4/1/09- From Stress to Financial Mess: Study Suggests Acute Stress Affects Financial Decision Making

It is not surprising that as our economy continues its freefall, we are feeling increasingly more stressed and worried. Many of us are feeling extreme unease about the security of our jobs and being able to make our next mortgage payment. Read More