-
Our Bodies Are So Ready to Celebrate the Rebirth of the Sun
The moment when Earth’s Northern Hemisphere tilts farthest away from the sun—the December solstice, on the 21st this year—is not just a mark on the calendar. It is also defined by the way our bodies react to the event. The dimming of our daily ration of natural light leading up to the winter solstice produces a series of conspicuous physiological changes. These changes relate to circadian rhythms. The word circadian derives from the Latin “circa diem,” meaning “about a day.” It signifies the way animals, plants, fungi and bacteria react to environmental cues, including inputs of light, on a daily and seasonal basis.
-
How Feelings of Disconnection and Lack of Control Fuel Conspiracy Beliefs
Analysis - Conspiracy theories have always been a part of society, offering explanations - sometimes simple, often elaborate - for complex events. Some have uncovered genuine conspiracies, such as the Watergate scandal. Most lack substance but are nevertheless widely believed. For instance, the idea that the moon landing was staged has persisted for decades despite substantial evidence to the contrary. What drives people to adopt these beliefs? Researchers have been investigating the underlying mechanisms that foster conspiracy beliefs and our new study adds another piece to this puzzle.
-
New Research in Psychological Science
A sample of research on the effects of voice pitch, when and why people conceal infectious disease, the perception of falling behind, dissociable codes in motor working memory, and much more.
-
Cultural Differences Account for Starkly Different Responses to COVID-19
The cultural differences between the United States and East Asian countries that contributed to divergent COVID-19 outcomes are the focus of the latest issue of Psychological Science in the Public Interest.
-
Learning As an Adult Can Be Hard. It’s Even Harder on a Balance Beam.
Learning a new skill as an adult can be daunting, especially something as difficult as gymnastics. One adult gymnastics class shows there are serious benefits to adult learning. ... Rachel Wu is an associate professor of psychology at University of California, Riverside. She studies the way children learn and how those patterns might help adults learn too. She says that in some ways, learning is easier as an adult. Adults generally grasp concepts more quickly. They're less distracted, and they have better motor control than kids. But learning as an adult requires time, money and quality teachers, which can all be harder to find.
-
How to Get a Party Buzz Even When You’re Not Drinking
It doesn’t matter why you’ve chosen not to drink this holiday season: Your reasons are your own, and they are good enough. But regardless of whether you are sober year-round or you’re just giving yourself a break in December, you are likely facing a series of festive occasions that test your will to make merry with nothing but your unadulterated personality and an ugly sweater. Scrooge may have faced three spirits, but none of them were the Ghost of Christmas Small Talk. To avoid the awkwardness, you might be tempted to just stay in.
