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Self-Affirmation Enhances Performance, Makes Us Receptive to Our Mistakes
Life is about failure as much as it is about success. From the mistakes we make at work or school to our blunders in romantic relationships, we are constantly reminded of how we could be better. By focusing on the important qualities that make us who we are – a process called self-affirmation – we preserve our self-worth in the face of our shortcomings. Self-affirmation has been shown to have powerful effects – research suggests that it can minimize the anxiety, stress, and defensiveness associated with threats to our sense of self while keeping us open to the idea that there is room for improvement. But how does the process of self-affirmation actually work?
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How Teen Rejection Can Lead to Chronic Disease Later in Life
TIME: Teens may not be wrong when they see their social troubles as matters of life and death. Being excluded, rejected, dissed by friends or otherwise ostracized by your peers is practically a rite of passage of adolescence, but these social challenges— particularly when they are repeated — can have a lasting legacy on health. A new study of teenage girls shows that “targeted rejection,” in which students are singled out for taunting or personally rejected by a friend, can have measurable effects on the immune system.
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Many who delay sex are happier as adults
United Press International: U.S. teens who delay having sex may have more satisfying romantic relationships in adulthood, but were less likely to get married, researchers say. Paige Harden of The University of Texas at Austin said the study found those who had a later first sexual experience were less likely to be married and had fewer romantic partners in adulthood. Harden said it's possible people who have their first sexual encounter later might be pickier in choosing romantic and sexual partners, but more research is needed. Read the whole story: United Press International
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Parenting Style May Shape Political Views
LiveScience: Parenting style and childhood temperament might play a role in shaping one's political mindset, new research suggests. Specifically, kids who have fearful temperaments and are raised by parents who value obedience are more likely to endorse conservative ideologies as young adults, the study found. A team led by psychology researcher R. Chris Fraley of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign examined data from 708 children who originally participated in a National Institute on Child Health and Human Development study.
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True Blue Stands Out in an Earthy Crowd
The New York Times: For the French Fauvist painter and color gourmand Raoul Dufy, blue was the only color with enough strength of character to remain blue “in all its tones.” Darkened red looks brown and whitened red turns pink, Dufy said, while yellow blackens with shading and fades away in the light. But blue can be brightened or dimmed, the artist said, and “it will always stay blue.” Scientists, too, have lately been bullish on blue, captivated by its optical purity, complexity and metaphorical fluency.
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Mindful of Marshmallows
The Wall Street Journal: First developed by psychologist Walter Mischel, the now-famous "marshmallow test" found large differences in how long 4-year-olds could wait before consuming a treat—with self-control strongly linked to higher SAT scores and other positive outcomes later in life. Other studies have suggested an inborn ability to delay gratification, but a new paper points to a role for nurture as well. In the study, 28 3- to 5-year-olds were promised art supplies and stickers, only to have this promise broken. The other group of kids got the promised items. Read the whole story: The Wall Street Journal
