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Heritability in the Era of Molecular Genetics
Today it seems to be common knowledge that most behavioral and psychological traits have a heritable genetic component. But what does it really mean when a study says that the heritability of Trait X is 46%? Do you know? Do researchers know? According to a review written by psychological scientists Wendy Johnson (University of Edinburgh), Lars Penke (University of Minnesota), and Frank Spinath (Saarland University), the excitement over research describing the heritability of behavioral and psychological traits has overshadowed many of the limitations of what these values can tell us.
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A ‘Bite-Size’ Rebuttal
In the January 2012 issue of Perspectives on Psychological Science, two articles were published in which the authors argued that the trend of increasingly shorter journal articles could have a negative impact on research efforts. Two of the authors, Marco Bertamini and Marcus Munafò, later reiterated their arguments in an editorial published in The New York Times on January 28, 2012. Their column has been reprinted below along with a response from the current Editor and four former Editors of Psychological Science. We invite you to read their points and determine for yourself what “bite-sized” science means for psychological science.
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Where Does Self-Discipline Come From?
Willpower is the key to much that’s good in life. Willpower is what makes us save for the future rather than splurge now. It helps us to keep our heads down, studying and working when we really don’t feel like it, to earn that degree or promotion. Willpower allows us to say no to that tempting cigarette, extra dessert, or second glass of whiskey—and to hop on the treadmill. And, of course, failures of self-control can sabotage all those goals. So it’s no wonder that psychological scientists have been studying willpower for decades, trying to figure out who is disciplined under what circumstances—and why.
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Facets of Mindfulness as Predictors of Gratitude
In case you missed it, the cameras were rolling at the APS 23rd Annual Convention in Washington, DC. Watch Tony Ahrens from American University present his poster session research on "Facets of Mindfulness as Predictors of Gratitude: A Daily Diary Study.” Tony Ahrens is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at American University. His research interests fall at the interface of social and clinical psychology, with an emphasize on gratitude, mindfulness, and fear of emotion. In this study, trait gratitude in students was measured and then students were asked to complete daily dairy entries about something good that happened that day that neither they or anyone else caused.
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Babies Know What’s Fair
“That’s not fair!” It’s a common playground complaint. But how early do children acquire this sense of fairness? Before they’re 2, says a new study. “We found that 19- and 21-month-old infants have a general expectation of fairness, and they can apply it appropriately to different situations,” says University of Illinois psychology graduate student Stephanie Sloane, who conducted the study with UI’s Renée Baillargeon and David Premack of the University of Pennsylvania. The findings appear in Psychological Science, a journal published by the Association for Psychological Science. In each of two experiments, babies watched live scenarios unfold.
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‘Likes Long Walks in the Woods on Autumn Days’
Huffington Post: Valentine's Day is for many just a cruel reminder that they have not yet found the love of their life, their soul mate, their life partner. And let's face it: finding that special person can be tough in 21st-century America. The village matchmakers are long gone, along with the villages themselves, and most of us are spread far and wide, without the traditional networks of family and old friends. That's why millions are turning to online dating services, which promise to use math and science to find people dates -- and often more than dates, life partners. But how reliable are these popular services, and the matchmaking algorithms they use?
