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What’s the power of a good luck charm?
CNN: As Texas Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson took to the mound Monday night, he wore a rope-like necklace that may be nothing more than a fashion choice, but if he believes in the maker's claims, that may give him an "edge" against his opponents at bat. It's not just Wilson; a surprising number of professional athletes have begun wearing the titanium-laced necklaces, including Rangers Derrick Holland, Mitch Moreland and Elvis Andrus. The "edge" the necklaces' manufacturer, Phiten, claims to give is not proved, but especially for athletes, there is psychological value to an item worn consistently, rituals and superstitions, one sports psychologist says.
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Curiosity + Diligence as Good as Plain Intelligence, Researchers Say
International Business Times: Curiosity and diligence are as important as intelligence for a student's success, according to research released Wednesday. A European trio analyzed 200 existing studies that included 50,000 students and found that curiosity influenced academic performance. Not only that, but throw in contientiousness, and average-intelligence students shone as brightly as those deemed intelligent. Put together, conscientiousness and curiosity had as big an effect on performance as intelligence.
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Tel maître, tel chien
Le Matin: Une étude scientifique menée il y a quelques années dans la revue américaine Psychological Science prétendait démontrer que l'homme a tendance à choisir un compagnon canin qui lui ressemble. Les chercheurs concluaient que les personnes achetant un chien de race, le choisissaient en fonction de ressemblances physiques ou de traits de comportement communs. C'est donc une merveilleuse excuse pour voir ou revoir une galerie photos de "Tel maître, tel chien" ou vice-versa! Read the full story: Le Matin
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Studying Flags, Pins, Hope From 2008 Election
Miller-McCune: The Stars and Stripes are subliminal, class cleavages are overrated, and other academic analysis we should consider from the last election. I Pledge Allegiance to the GOP Flag The flags of the United States of America and the Civil War-era Confederate Army have somewhat different symbolic associations. But recent research suggests exposure to the Stars and Stripes and the Confederate flag may have had the same effect on voters during the 2008 presidential election: A decreased likelihood of voting for Barack Obama.
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Wat maakt een briljante schaker?
Metro Netherlands: Wat onderscheidt een goede van een briljante schaker? Moet je aanleg hebben of is het een kwestie van oefenen? Als we de bestseller auteur Malcolm Gladwell moeten geloven hoef je geen geniaal brein te hebben voor succes of een aangeboren talent. Hoe getalenteerd je ook bent, je moet tienduizend uur trainen om echt goed te worden, zo staan beschreven in zijn boek 'Blink'. Dat betekent tien jaar lang twintig uur per week oefenen. Zo veel tijd kost het de hersenen om alles te assimileren wat nodig is om een sport of instrument werkelijk te beheersen.
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Thinking Out of the Box: How Physical Experience Enhances Creativity
Huffington Post: When Hollywood producer Steven Spielberg was working on his 1977 hit movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," he spent long hours puzzling over the artistic texture of the film, trying to get just the right feel. Late one night, he decided to put his work aside and take a drive to clear his head. He headed up Hollywood Hill to one of the vistas overlooking Los Angeles and -- impulsively, for no reason at all -- he did a hand-stand on the roof of his car. With his perspective on the illuminated LA cityscape turned topsy-turvy, he "saw" what would become the alien visitors' spacecraft. This Hollywood legend may be apocryphal, but creativity gurus love it anyway.
