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The Importance of Fostering Emotional Diversity in Boys
You’re given a choice: Would you rather spend your day feeling happy versus happy interspersed with some moments of sadness, frustration, and anxiety? Most of us would choose the first option in a heartbeat. Psychologists, too, long championed the importance of cultivating positive emotions as one path towards optimizing well being, resilience to stressors, and salutary physical health outcomes. Not surprisingly, when people are asked what emotions they want to feel, we place a heavy emphasis on wanting to feel primarily positive emotions. However, research suggests the choice may no longer be a straightforward one.
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The US Office of Evaluation Sciences Releases 2016-2017 Results
The US Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), a team of social and behavioral scientists tasked with designing and testing evidence-based interventions within the federal government, has released the results of their most recent evaluations of government programs.
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How Boring Roads Lead to Distracted Driving
A simulation study suggests that drivers’ minds wander more often when they travel on empty roads compared to busy routes.
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“All About Grants” Podcast a Valuable Resource for NIH Grant Applicants
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a major funder of behavioral science research in the US, but the NIH system can be daunting to students and early-career researchers who are just learning the grant funding ropes. Fortunately, NIH provides a variety of resources for those wishing to learn more. One such resource is the “All About Grants” podcast series, which covers a range of topics relevant to all scientists in short segments. Each “All About Grants” podcast episode features an interview with an NIH staff person conducted by Megan Columbus, Director of the Division of Communication & Outreach in NIH’s Office of Extramural Research.
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Which New Year’s Resolutions Are Most Likely to Stick?
Come Jan. 1, 40% of Americans determine to be nicer, eat healthier or quit smoking—and stick to that plan for months after. A majority don’t succeed. There’s even an unofficial holiday called Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day on Jan. 17 to acknowledge those failures. People may not follow through because they’re making the wrong kinds of resolutions. John C. Norcross, a distinguished professor of psychology at Pennsylvania’s University of Scranton, is the author of “Changeology: 5 Steps to Realizing Your Goals and Resolutions.” He explains the benefits of specific goals and why a pair of resolutions may lead to better rates of success.
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Depression may start much earlier than previously thought
Research suggests 1 to 2 percent of children 2 to 5 years old have depression, and that untreated depression in toddlers can lead to more depression later in life.
