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Raising a Moral Child
The New York Times: What does it take to be a good parent? We know some of the tricks for teaching kids to become high achievers. For example, research suggests that when parents praise effort rather than ability, children develop a stronger work ethic and become more motivated. Yet although some parents live vicariously through their children’s accomplishments, success is not the No. 1 priority for most parents. We’re much more concerned about our children becoming kind, compassionate and helpful. Surveys reveal that in the United States, parents from European, Asian, Hispanic and African ethnic groups all place far greater importance on caring than achievement.
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Blame Your Parents for Your Procrastinating Ways
Inc.: The next time someone gets mad at you for putting things off, blame Mom and Dad. Procrastination is linked to genetics, according to a surprising new study published in the journal Psychological Science, and it may even stem from impulsivity. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder surveyed 181 identical twin pairs and 166 fraternal twin pairs to assess their ability to set and maintain goals, as well as their tendencies toward procrastination and impulsivity. The study found procrastination actually derives from impulsivity, as ancestors relied on the latter for survival but evolved to have more long-term goals.
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Sounds true, but you seem like a liar
The Boston Globe: Can you spot a liar? No, but you can sense a liar. That’s the implication of new research from psychologists at the University of California Berkeley. After watching videos of suspects being interrogated about a mock crime, people couldn’t reliably discriminate guilt from innocence when explicitly asked to do so.
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Steven Pinker’s Mind Games
The New York Times: Steven Pinker is every bit the populist. All but three of his nine books are aimed at the general public (“The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined” is available in 21 formats and editions; the CD comes out this week). Dr. Pinker’s teaching is similarly accessible. Just look at the test questions here, culled from one of his Harvard courses, “Psychological Science.” He explains his approach: “The questions that psychology tackles are the ones that obsess us in everyday life: family relations, sexuality, kindness and aggression, the reliability of knowledge.
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Moving Beyond “Just-So Stories”: Young Children Can Be Taught Basic Natural Selection
Spend more than a few hours with a child under the age of 10 and “why?” is a question you’re likely to hear a lot. Children are naturally curious explorers, and they actively try to understand the new and incomprehensible things around them. Psychology researchers have discovered that this natural curiosity can be harnessed to help even young children grasp some of the important scientific concepts involved in natural selection.
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Smartphone game designed to reduce anxiety shows promise in study
CBS: Anxiety relief could be at your fingertips just by playing a game on your smartphone, new research suggests. Not just any game, though. A professor of psychology and neuroscience teamed up with app developers to design a game called Personal Zen that incorporates the latest science to clinically reduce anxiety levels while you play. Dr. Tracy Dennis, the game's creator and a professor at Hunter College in New York, says the game helps fill a gap in the mental health care system.
