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Intergroup Biases Emerge Early and Remain Stable With Age
Just like adults, children from across different cultures show implicit intergroup biases, according to a new study published in Psychological Science. The research suggests that children may show these biases as a result of their early experiences with status hierarchies. Psychological scientist Yarrow Dunham of Princeton University and colleagues conducted several experiments in which White-American children, ages 3 to 14, and adults were asked to look at a series of racially ambiguous faces and guess their race (e.g. Asian, White, or Black).
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Happiness is the best medicine
Salon: We’ve all experienced downward spirals, in which dark emotions lead to destructive behavior that damages our health, strains our relationships, and leaves us feeling even worse than when we started. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an uplifting equivalent to that destructive chain of events? Newly published research suggests there is. What’s more, this delightful dynamic helps explain the well-documented link between joy, appreciation, and good health.
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Fierce beliefs: built on ignorance
The Boston Globe: Do you have a strong opinion about Obamacare? Great. Now, please explain how it works. If that question gives you pause, it might also serve a purpose: A new study suggests that the intense political polarization affecting this country depends on ignorance, and that drawing our attention to how little we know could actually help us get along. Researchers asked people to indicate their position on one of several policies (e.g., cap and trade, flat tax) and then asked them to explain the mechanics of how the policy worked or didn’t work. Read the whole story: The Boston Globe
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The Childhood Age That Predicts Future Success
LiveScience: If you want to see which kids will grow up to be the most successful adults, visit their second-grade classroom, new research suggests. A study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland discovered that math and reading ability at age 7 are linked with socioeconomic status several decades later. The researchers found that such childhood abilities predict socioeconomic status in adulthood over and above associations with intelligence, education and socioeconomic status in childhood. ...
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Your Brain on Laughter
TIME: Are they laughing at you or laughing with you? Your brain can tell the difference. Curious about how different types of laughter — mocking, joyful or ticklish — are understood, researchers led by Dirk Wildgruber, professor of neuropsychiatry at Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in Germany decided to explore what these different expressions of hilarity looked like in the brain. In contrast, seeing facial expressions (even if you are just imagining them when you are listening to laughter) might be more important in recognizing joy.
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How Can Identical Twins Turn Out So Different?
NPR: A study of genetically identical mice is providing some hints about humans. How can one identical twin be a wallflower while the other is the life of the party? The study of 40 young mice found that their behavior grew increasingly different over three months, even though the mice shared the same genes and lived in the same five-level cage, researchers report Thursday in the journal Science. ... The finding could help scientists finally figure out how one identical twin can become very outgoing while the other remains shy, says Eric Turkheimer, a psychologist at the University of Virginia. Read the whole story: NPR
