-
The Karmic Connection: Do We Expect Good Fortune After Helping Others?
The Huffington Post: In general, what goes around comes around. If you're nice to people, good things come your way, but if you're jagoff, look out (or, as I like to say, "don't put shit on a boomerang.") These expectations make sense in social situations, where people can retaliate or return favors, and where reputation matters. But, as I explain in chapter 7 of my new book, The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking, we expect the universe to play by the same rules -- to manifest karma. And new research indicates that when we want something from the universe, we'll invest in karma by doing a good deed. People learn from an early age that good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds are punished.
-
People with dualist beliefs less likely to engage in healthy behaviours
Asian News International: Washington: Researchers say dualist beliefs, that is, believing that the brain and the mind are two separate entities, can effect how we think and behave in everyday life. Across five related studies, researchers Matthias Forstmann, Pascal Burgmer, and Thomas Mussweiler of the University of Cologne, Germany, found that people primed with dualist beliefs had more reckless attitudes toward health and exercise, and also preferred (and ate) a less healthy diet than those who were primed with physicalist beliefs. Furthermore, they found that the relationship also worked in the other direction.
-
Are climate sceptics more likely to be conspiracy theorists?
The Guardian: It's time to come clean: climate change is a hoax. And the moon landings were faked, 9/11 was an inside job, and the CIA is hiding the identity of the gunman on the grassy knoll. It might seem odd to lump climate change – a scientific theory supported by thousands of peer-reviewed papers and hundreds of independent lines of evidence – with conspiracy theories like these. But new research to be published in a forthcoming issue of Psychological Science has found a link between the endorsement of conspiracy theories and the rejection of established facts about climate science.
-
Olympics are fair game for spoiler alerts
Hampton Roads: Spoiler alert. Cover your ears. Sing loudly to yourself. Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father. Bruce Willis is already dead in “The Sixth Sense.” And the people who insist upon covering their ears and running for the hinterlands after hearing the words “spoiler alert” should always be ignored. LA-LA-LA-LA-Laaaaa. In an odd twist of priorities, the nation’s greatest secrets no longer are housed in military installations. They exist in the last seven minutes of movies and television shows. Read the whole story: Hampton Roads
-
24th APS Annual Convention in Pictures
With a record number of attendees, this year’s APS Convention in Chicago was a hit! Relive your convention memories and check out some of the pictures from our 24th Annual Convention on our Facebook page. Have your own convention pictures? We'd love to see them! Share them on Facebook or email them to [email protected]
-
London Olympics: British seek to capitalize on knowing territory
Los Angeles Times: More athletes equate to more medal chances. And they'll know the territory. English sailors have years of experience with the winds off Weymouth. The soccer players are familiar with the pitches at various Olympic venues around the country. Even the BMX racers have devoted considerable hours to training at the relatively new track in Olympic Park. With subjectively scored events such as gymnastics, boxing and diving, there can be an additional advantage. Studying the last six Summer Olympics, Shibli found host nations excelled in sports that involved judges.
