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Why (Almost) All of Us Cheat and Steal
TIME: Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, who teaches at Duke University, is known as one of the most original designers of experiments in social science. Not surprisingly, the best-selling author’s creativity is evident throughout his latest book, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty. A lively tour through the impulses that cause many of us to cheat, the book offers especially keen insights into the ways in which we cut corners while still thinking of ourselves as moral people. Here, in Ariely’s own words, are seven lessons you didn’t learn in school about dishonesty. (Interview edited and condensed by Gary Belsky.) Read the whole story: TIME
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Thinking about wine can help you relax, scientists claim
The Telegraph: People are so suggestive that simply believing an alcoholic drink will make us feel better or socialise more easily at a party will greatly raise the chance of making it so, researchers said. This is because of the phenomenon of "response expectancies", or the way in which we predict how we will behave in different situations. Because we expect that alcohol will make us more relaxed, for example, we automatically respond by becoming more open and chattier in a subconscious attempt to meet our expectation, psychologists explained.
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Social-class discrimination plays a role in poorer health for teens
Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel: A study of teenagers led by a University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher reports that social class discrimination can contribute to poorer health. Previous studies have linked poverty and poor health, but UW researcher Thomas Fuller-Rowell says this study is one of the first to examine the health impacts of class discrimination. The new research is detailed in the journal Psychological Science. The researchers examined 252 teenagers, all 17-year-olds from upstate New York. Most of the teens were white, so race was not one of the factors examined.
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Studies Find That Gossip Isn’t Just Loose Talk
The New York Times: GOSSIP. Almost all of us do it, most of us are embarrassed about it, and sometimes, to our horror, we get caught. But not all gossip is bad, and, in fact, gossip can be useful in maintaining social norms and keeping people in line. Maybe it sounds as if I’m just trying to rationalize the desire to sometimes spread a few juicy bits of information, but recent research looks at the good side of gossip. First, the definition of gossip is fairly neutral.
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Legacy in Mind: Why We Bother to Save the Planet
The Huffington Post: It's supposed to hit 97 degrees this week in Washington, D.C., my hometown. My plan is to stay indoors and crank up the AC, for as long as the heat wave lasts. I know that the price tag for my comfort will show up in my next utility bill, but that's a price I'm willing to pay. I also know that my choice has other, hidden costs -- costs that will be paid by future generations, including my children and their children. Global warming is an undisputed scientific fact now, and there is little doubt that this ominous trend is related to human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels.
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Formula written for math success
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Mastery of fractions and early division is a predictor of students' later success with algebra and other higher-level mathematics, based on a study done by a team of researchers led by a Carnegie Mellon University professor. That means more effective teaching of the concepts is needed to improve math scores among U.S. high school students, which have remained stagnant for more than 30 years.
